With water source drying and population on the rise, the people in Trashigang’s Wamrong town are facing water shortage throughout the year. The distance of the current water source at Kharungla, which is about 15 kilometres away from Wamrong town is another issue. At the moment, drinking water is supplied on an hourly basis.
Drinking water is distributed to the public from a reservoir tank, every morning. Water from the reservoir tank lasts for about an hour.
While water pipelines burst open in summer due to excessive water pressure, in winter, the water source almost dries up.
People in the town use water storage tanks to store water but despite judicious use, hoteliers and businesses are affected.
A hotel owner in Wamrong town, Tsewang Norbu, said that he had to cancel reservations and catering orders due to a water shortage.
“I am paying Nu 800 per trip to fetch water, and if I fetch four to five times, I have to give around Nu 3,000 to 4,000 for water. We are buying water here.”
Some hoteliers and building owners travel around seven kilometres to fetch water.
A resident of the town, Rinzin Wangchuk, lamented how cities like Thimphu have continuous water all season. He said, “here we do not get water even when we are willing to pay for it.”
Wamrong town has a population of over 1,000 people with eight hotels and 25 business establishments.
People say Wamrong town has been grappling with water shortage for over three decades.
The Wamrong Dungkhag office said they have proposed to address Wamrong’s water shortage issue under the water flagship programme.
The dungkhag had identified a new water source at Shushigang in Khaling gewog, which is 25 kilometres from Wamrong town.
Budget shortage meant, works to supply water from the new source did not materialise.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Sherub Dorji
