In Lhuentse, the district administration is carrying out land management work at Jasabi village which was hit by a flash flood last year. The flood resulted in the tragic loss of lives and extensive damage to acres of land. To ensure the safety of the villagers, the district administration has also decided to relocate the village to a safer place.
This is Jasabi village under Kurtoed Gewog with a population of about 25 people. The village endured the devastating impact of a flash flood in the early hours of 30th September last year. The disaster claimed the lives of five individuals and left behind a trail of destruction, affecting properties, crops, and livestock.
But efforts are underway by the district administration to manage land.
In order to restore safety and security, two excavators have been deployed by the district administration to carry out essential land management tasks, including the removal of boulders. Remarkable progress has already been made, with work completed on more than seven acres of land.
The flash flood Last year destroyed about 18 acres.
‘‘Firstly, the land is very fertile. Secondly, from a religious point of view, they have deities that are to be celebrated, which we call Preu. So, upon consultation with the public, they decided to shift their house because it is a risk again into the flood,” said Wangchen Norbu, Sr. Dzongrab.
After the flash flood, the villagers had to import everything including rice as their land was filled with boulders and debris. In the past, the village was self-sufficient in cereals.
But the land management works have brought hope to the villagers.
‘‘It was impossible for us to clear the boulders. There are boulders that even machines are facing difficulty to move. So people are happy with the work progress,” said Sonam Dorji, Jasabi-Ugyenphu Tshogpa.
‘‘We are provided with land to construct a house in a safer place. Since we do not have to buy the land, we agreed to relocate,” said Yonten Dema, a villager.
‘‘We were born and raised here. We cannot think of going anywhere,” said Rinchen Zomba, another villager.
The Nu 1.5 M land management project which began in January this year is expected to end in April next year.
But until the village is relocated, they will have to continue living with their relatives in nearby villages.
Karma Wangdi/Rinchen Tobgay, Lhuentse
Edited by Tshering Zam
