Winter is inconvenient in many ways for a lot of people. In Khamaed village of Jigme Chhoeling Gewog in Sarpang, it is the time where people worry about not having sufficient water. People there don’t have reliable water sources and therefore depend on the streams and ponds nearby. But now, they won’t have to worry about not having enough water. The De-suung National Service Water project is back in the dzongkhag.
While many tap water on their own from nearby sources, others manage from neighbours. And this is the practice every winter. Let alone grow crops, they don’t even get enough to consume.
According to a resident, Leki Wangchuk, only a few have sufficient water and the rest of them either tap their water from nearby sources or depend on their neighbours.
“Some of us have severe drinking water problems. Our old water sources are drying up,” said Ati Raj Mishra, another farmer.
And for the few who have drawn their water, they have to carry out maintenance now and then. However, this problem will soon become a past.
The De-suung National Service Water Project launched a new water supply for Jigme Chhoeling Gewog recently.
Some 55 DeSuups will work for the next three months to bring water from Kabreychhu, a source which is about a 35-minutes’ walk from the Gewog Centre.
The project will cost about Nu 7.15 M.
According to Sarpang Dzongda, Lobzang Dorji, due to a lack of sufficient water and the existing ones drying up, most of the lands have been left fallow.
“This has affected the socio-economic development of the people,” he said.
However, the dzongda said the current water supply will ensure enough water supplies for more than 140 families and more than 700 people throughout the year.
Once the project completes, winter will no longer be a problem for them.
Meanwhile, the dzongkhag got the first water supply under the project in the Tashichhoeling village of Taraythang Gewog.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
Edited by Chayku
