People of Tralang under Tang Gewog in Bumthang are not happy with authorities after a suspended bridge built over a year ago has not been handed over to them. Moreover, people are left worried as the bridge worth about Nu 3 M, which looks poorly built, is already showing signs of failure. Last year people complained on the media about the project’s poor workmanship.
This time last year, the bridge at Tralang had already developed cracks on its walls and steps. Now, the cracks have become wider and the bridge’s condition has worsened. One of the sidewalls of the steps is almost falling apart. The bridge itself has become tilted. Though most of the work was done by the villagers themselves, they say there was a lack of monitoring from gewog and District officials.
“They have hired both skilled and unskilled people for masonry works. The ones done by the skilled masons are good but the ones built by unskilled people are what has led to what we see today, a cracked and unstable bridge. The bridge is not serving its purpose,” said Pema Tobden, a resident of Tralang.
“The Gewog and District officials haven’t handed the bridge over to us. We had been waiting for the handing-taking over event but that didn’t happen, so we took the risk and used it. We worry that our cattle could fall from the bridge,” added Sonam Choki, another resident.
The work was executed by the District Administration as “departmental work”. Kuenzang, a technician with Bumthang’s Municipal Office supervised the project. Karma Duptho, an Assistant Engineer with the District Administration was the site engineer. People are accusing project officials of failing to pay their wages besides grievances over work quality.
“There are many of us who haven’t been paid wages. We worked on the project thinking that we would be paid immediately. I think we haven’t received wages for 3 months’ worth of work,” said Ngawang Sherab, a resident of Tralang.
“The cracks were filled up with cement and gravel last year but the walls have come apart again. Moreover, the steps are too tall that is difficult for our cattle to climb up and down the bridge. Let alone cattle, even elderly people are finding it difficult to use the bridge,” said Rinchen, another resident of the village.
“The media already covered the issue last year and I feel the onus is now on the auditors and the Anti-Corruption Commission officials to hold the officials concerned accountable,” added Yeshey Nidup, another resident.
Tang Gup Ugyen Nima said the bridge was not handed over to the people as its steps and walls keep forming cracks due to the marshy construction site.
According to the gup, the site was collectively chosen by the Gewog Administration, engineers from the District Administration and officials from the Works and Human Settlement Ministry in presence of the villagers. “During the site selection time, the area was not as marshy as it is today. The irrigation water from a nearby field has worsened the area which has affected the bridge,” said the gup.
He also said the Gewog Administration will maintain the steps and walls of the bridge and hand it over to the people within this financial year if there are budget savings from other projects.
“We couldn’t hand over the bridge to the people as the foundation ground has to set before step and wall repairing works are carried out. The bridge has become a little slanted because the bridge’s suspender cable is mounted beneath the steps, so when the walls are displaced, the cable also shifts towards one side. But this is not a major problem,” added the gup.
The Gup also said the project has been audited. The Royal Audit Authority officials in Bumthang were not available for comments. Bumthang Dzongrab who is the officiating Dzongda didn’t comment on the issue. However, the site engineer said the crack formation will not hamper the overall strength of the bridge as the tension of the bridge will be carried by the suspender cables. The cables are anchored on the ground beneath the steps. He also said it will take some time before the foundation becomes hardened which will require regular maintenance. He said he informed the Gup to keep a regular maintenance budget for the bridge to fill up the cracks as and when they develop. The project supervisor said the unpaid wages are not a significant amount and he is trying to settle it with the workers.
Meanwhile, people of Khangrab chiwog are also not happy with the deteriorating condition of a motorable bridge built a few years ago. They say that the bridge was also not handed over to them. Some parts of the bridge are getting washed away. The Gup said it will be maintained by reallocating the chiwog’s watermill maintenance budget of about Nu 150,000 within this year.
Kipchu, Bumthang
