The communities of Korphu Gewog in Trongsa have long been losing their harvest to wild animals. As an intervention, the gewog started the construction of chain link fencing in February last year which was supposed to be complete in about three months. But the border closure and frequent lockdowns amid the pandemic hindered the work progress. It is now expected to complete in May this year.
The six-kilometre long fence will enclose nearly 300 acres of cultivable land at Nabji chiwog. The community contractors in the gewog are executing and expediting the work.
“We are expediting the works so that it could be soon handed over to the people and they reap the benefits at the earliest. Therefore, I am certain to complete the works exactly on time,” said Sangay Khandu, Korphu Gup.
“From drilling a hole in a metal plate to attach the wire mesh to poles, requires a total of four holes. And fixing it all together with nuts and bolts is the toughest and most consuming time,” said Karma Tshering, contractor.
The contractor added that unequal height and distance between metal poles that support the wire mesh is challenging the team. It is giving the workers additional labour to cut and weld the metals.
“In consultation with dzongkhag and gewog, we now have professionals to tackle such issue of piercing holes. So, from now, on we have two months to complete the work. And I hope I can complete it before the deadline,” said Karma Tshering, contractor.
About Nu 30 M is used for the construction.
“Besides monkeys, I don’t think other animals would attack our fields now after the installation of the fence. Likewise, the households with less manpower also need not worry about guarding the crops,” said Dorji, a farmer of Korphu Gewog.
“So far, we have been guarding the fields day and night. Still, the animals destroy our crops. We could hardly collect any yield. But with support like this from the government, the youth in the gewog are now motivated to do farming,” said Ngawang Tenzin, a student.
The initiative will come as a respite to about 140 households of Nimzhong, Korphu and Nabji chiwogs.
Passang, Trongsa
Edited by Sonam Pem
