The Gasa hot spring or Gasa Tshachhu will take some time to reopen to the public. The management is still carrying out restoration works at the site. The hot spring which is believed to cure skin problems, joint pains, and digestive disorders, among others, was completely washed away by the Mochhu flood in August last year.
Identifying the water sources of the hot spring and the works to divert the Mochhu have almost been completed. The sources were found intact in the same old locations.
For the management, this was a major concern as they feared the flood water could have washed away the source of the hot spring.
The restoration work is currently focusing on levelling the ground at the site. The hot spring is being enclosed with concrete walls to avoid a similar disaster in the future.
“The incident has left many people disheartened and incurred a huge loss for the government. However, we are very much blessed and excited to have identified and recovered all the water sources of the hot spring,” said Tandin Dorji, Manager of Gasa Hot Spring.
As part of the restoration project, the course of the Mochhu is being diverted from the hot spring by constructing walls.
“In the past, Mochhu was flowing nearby the hot spring. Therefore, we are working on diverting the Mochhu, and about 90 per cent of the river diversion work has been completed,” added Tandin Dorji.
The management will not allow the public to visit the hot spring until the site development works are complete. The hot spring area is still not safe for the public.
And the works to install soaking ponds will begin only after completing the site development and water diversion works. The hot spring had seven ponds, four concrete structures and a stupa.
“Firstly, monsoon is still ongoing and secondly the hot spring site is still not stable and safe for the public. In addition, the protection of hot spring water sources and restoration works is still ongoing at the site. Also, we do not have any ponds to let people soak at the site today. Therefore, the district administration has restricted the public and visitors at the site for the time being,” said Tandin Dorji.
Meanwhile, the management says the revenue from the guest houses dropped drastically. Only a handful of people visiting the nearby hot stone bath facility use the guest houses. The hot spring would usually bring about Nu 2.5 M in revenue annually from the guest houses.
The Tshachu Management is working to complete the hot spring restoration within June next year.
Changa Dorji, Gasa
Edited by Phub Gyem
