There was a heated debate between the Tsakaling community and Patshaling Gewog in Tsirang this year when BBS ran a story about their water shortage. People said the existing water supply was not maintained. But in the next four months, they may not have to talk about it again.
The reason; the gewog will soon have reliable drinking water as the water flagship project to supply drinking water has reached the gewog. The more than Nu 5 M project will benefit about 50 households.
In absence of a reliable drinking water supply, the people of Tsakaling have been relying on a small stream for years now. One individual had to get a loan to buy pipes to bring water to her house. The village was connected with drinking water in 2009 but it didn’t serve its purpose after a few years.
According to a Kinzang Namgay from Tsakaling, the drinking water supply was disrupted beyond repair and they resort to the stream for both drinking and irrigation thereafter.
“At times we had to fetch water from a stream. It takes hours since we had to carry everything. But soon we will get a proper drinking water supply. I am excited,” said another.
Chengala from the same community said the stream too was not reliable since it dries up in winter. “We had difficulty in getting sufficient drinking water but we have been managing it so far. The drying water source has even caused arguments among neighbours since we rely on the same water source,” he said.
Farmers in Patshaling-Maed said the increasing number of people venturing into farming and construction of farm roads could be the cause of drinking water shortage.
“It has been around three years after we started facing drinking water shortage. Once we get the new water supply, we can also generate income by growing vegetables and cardamom,” said a resident.
Since its inception in November last year, the Desuung National Service Project has handed over 18 drinking water projects to its beneficiaries and nine similar projects are ongoing across the country. The Desuung office is planning to start two more projects in Yangnyer in Trashigang and Jomotshangkha in Samdrup Jongkhar early next month.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
