The farm road at Patshaling Toed and Patshaling Maed-Tsakaling chiwogs of Patshaling Gewog in Tsirang has started deteriorating barely a month following maintenance works. Worried over the unexpectedly poor condition of the road, a few residents of the two chiwogs shared their concerns and dissatisfaction regarding the poor quality of the Granular Sub-Base or GSB. The Tsirang District Administration had spent almost Nu 17 M from the district’s Common Minimum Infrastructure or CMI budget for the road improvement works.
During the maintenance period, 5.4 kilometres of the road was laid with GSB. As part of the work package, around seven kilometres of the drain was also constructed.
After completing the works last month, the District Administration handed over the road to Patshaling Gewog Administration and the beneficiaries.
The farm road benefits over 110 households of the two chiwogs, who depend on farming for livelihood.
But today, the road has become slippery and bumpy at several stretches.
People say this is due to the poor quality of GSB laying works. People of the two chiwogs are now requesting authorities to repair the road before the condition worsens.
“It is very difficult to travel when it rains. We have to drive a four-wheeler. I feel there are less gravel and more mud. This could be the reason for the deteriorating road condition,” said San Bdr. Gurung, a resident of Patshaling Maed.
Some beneficiaries who do not want to be named also alleged that they were not called during the handing-taking.
But the gewog office refutes the allegation saying executive members of the road user groups were called during the handing-taking.
The farm road constructed in 2008 connects the two chiwogs to the gewog centre and other gewogs of the districts.
“We even informed the site engineer of the necessary rectification and the contractor has rectified it accordingly. We did not see any shortcomings during the dry season but as the monsoon sets in, the road condition has started deteriorating in several locations,” said Man Doj Gurung, Patshaling Maed Tshogpa.
The District’s Planning Officer said the District Administration did not receive any official complaints.
However, she said the concerned construction company will have to repair the damages from the 10 per cent retention money or security deposit if the damages were truly caused due to poor quality work.
The Patshaling Mangmi shared the same view adding that the gewog administration will be responsible only for the damages caused by natural causes.
“The gewog administration feels that repairing the road amid the monsoon will be a waste of budget. However, we will deploy the machine and carry out the repairing works, which are caused by monsoon rain once the rainy season is over,” said Dhan Maya Tamang, Patshaling Mangmi.
Some beneficiaries who do not want to be named also alleged that they were not called during the handing-taking. But the gewog office refutes the allegation saying executive members of the road user groups were called during the handing-taking.
Pema Tshewang, Tsirang
Edited by Phub Gyem
