After decades of the drinking water crisis, the people of Tsirang Toed and Soentabsa chiwogs of Tsirang Toed Gewog in Tsirang will finally get a reliable drinking water supply. The Tarayana Foundation is working to connect a reliable drinking water supply to the chiwogs.
A team from the Tarayana Foundation’s field office in Tsirang along with the Tsirang Toed gewog administration and residents have identified a new water source recently.
The water source is located about 30 kilometres from the gewog. It is expected to cost around Nu 7 M just to procure construction materials.
The works began following Her Majesty Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck’s Royal Tour in the district in October this year. Her Majesty committed to help draw reliable drinking water to the two chiwogs and Tsirang Toed Central School.
“The identified water source is located at around 2,155 feet and the Tsirang Toed Central School is located at 1,532 feet. So, the water source is reliable and we are pretty sure that there will be good water flow from the source and will solve the drinking water issue,” said Tshering Dorji, the Chairman of Tsirang Toed Drinking Water Committee.
Without an adequate and reliable water supply, water taps run dry at the Tsirang Toed Central School in the gewog. The school has two water supply connections but it is insufficient for over 800 students.
To address the issue, the school management started harvesting rainwater but it serves its purpose only during monsoon.
Often students are found depending on tiny water sources located around a kilometre below the school to bathe and wash their clothes during weekends.
“We have many water taps installed within the school campus but remain idle without water. We have difficulty cleaning classrooms and toilets because of inadequate water. As a result, the school remains untidy most of the time,” said Kencho Wangdi, a student of the school.
“It is very tough for girls because since we all are teenagers and this time many of us go through puberty so we have menstruation. Sometimes we won’t have water to maintain hygiene and keep ourselves clean. So, it is tough for girls here,” said Nima Wangmo Tamang, another student.
“We have to visit such nearby water sources in the forest to wash our school uniforms during weekends. If not, it smells bad,” said Suman Subba, a student.
In the hope of getting an end to the problem, the school principal shared the challenges and sought support from the Tarayana Foundation during her Majesty Queen Mother Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck’s visit to the school.
“Preparing meals for students and maintaining personal hygiene is difficult when we don’t get adequate water. Because of this problem, often more students fall sick. As a result, students cannot attend classes regularly affecting their studies,” said Yeshi, the Principal of the school.
The location of the gewog, the increase in the number of households over the years and the distant water source have aggravated the drinking water shortage. The residents say, despite several requests, relevant agencies have failed to resolve the drinking water crisis.
“Considering the severity of the drinking water shortage, we have informed the problem to successive governments and local leaders many times. But for the last few years, they said that a water flagship project for the gewog has been approved but nothing has materialised as of now,” said Tshering Dorji, the Chairman of the Tsirang Toed Drinking Water Committee.
“In the absence of reliable drinking water, some of us have been fetching water from a small water source located near my house. Let alone the agriculture fields, the present water supply is not adequate for drinking purposes,” said Dorji Dukpa, a resident of the Tsirang Toed.
“If the small water source dries up, we will be left without water. The other water sources are very far from here. For now, at least the small water source is beneficial for us,” said Chimi Dem, another resident.
Meanwhile, according to the Tsirang district administration, the budget for a drinking water project has already been approved. The office is planning to award the tender works by February next year.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Sonam Pem
