A road is a prelude to developmental activities in communities. It is always a joyous occasion for the people when they are connected with a motorable road. It was no different for the people of Maan and Borangchilo under Shumar Gewog in Pema Gatshel when their remote villages were connected with a farm road earlier this year. However, their joys didn’t last long as the farm road could not serve its purpose without a motorable bridge over the Cherung stream.
The villages of Maan and Borangchilo are cut off from other parts of the districts at the Cherung stream. The road connects the villages with Denchi town in Pema Gatshel. Crossing the stream in the summer is impossible for any type of vehicle not because the stream is huge, but the road through the stream is less of a road and more of a boulder dump yard.
According to the residents, this happens during the summer season as the stream brings huge boulders from upstream where the gypsum mining is located. They say only a motorable bridge over the stream will solve the problem once and for all.
“The road has been blocked for almost two months now. If a bridge is constructed over this stream, we would be very thankful. It will solve all our problems,” said Tashi Jamtsho, from Maan under Shumar Gewog.
“It has become very urgent to construct a bridge over this stream, be it by the gewog or dzongkhag. We also hope that this is included in the current plan,” added Rinzin Thinley, from Borangchilo in Shumar Gewog.
“We usually get stuck at Cherung. We only have a temporary log bridge here. If a bridge is constructed, it will benefit not only the people of Maan, it will also benefit the people of Shumar, Gomchhu and others as this is the shortest route for them too,” said Karma Jamtsho, also from Maan.
The gewog is also aware of the issue. According to Shumar Gup Sangay Chophel, the bridge will be prioritised during the current five-year plan.
“The bridge over this stream is very urgent for them. So, we will try our best to make it by this plan if we can. If we can not construct from the gewog’s budget, we will request assistance from the dzongkhag. We assure to have this in the present plan itself after discussing with dzongkhag at the earliest,” said Sangay Chophel, the Shumar Gup.
The farm road benefits many villages apart from Maan and Borangchilo. There are also plans to connect Nanong Gewog and Shumar Gewog through this farm road. Residents say it is more convenient for them to reach offices in the district from their villages through the farm road compared to taking the highway.
“If we take the highway. It’s almost 14 kilometres but it is only 6 kilometres if we take the farm road. As we must pay double charges while travelling through the longer route, the transportation cost is also increased. So it also makes difference in the cost of essential items too. We are hoping the construction of the bridge starts soon,” Rinzin Thinley added.
There are more than a hundred households in the two chiwogs of Nangkor and Goenpoong_Shali.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Sonam
