If everything goes as planned, the Phuentshogling Thromde will construct protection walls, heritage and recreational parks among others along the Om Chhu. The river flows behind the multi-level car parking. The thromde has proposed it in the next Five-Year-Plan. The Om Chhu has been posing threats and damaging the infrastructure in Phuentshogling town during every monsoon.
Last month, the swollen river Om Chhu washed away protection walls behind the multi-level car parking posing risks to the infrastructure and the town. And this is not something new.
Every year, during the rainy season, such incidents happen along the Om Chhu.
According to the Phuentshogling Thromde, it is now high time to develop well-designed permanent infrastructure along the river rather than spending money every year on temporary measures to prevent floods.
“Whatever we have done so far, I think it is not really robust. So, investment is very important and big projects should be implemented so that we do not have to work on them, time and again. For example, at the multi-level car parking, every year, we spend about Nu 5 to 10 M there. And every summer, it gets washed away from the back side by Om Chhu. This is not sustainable at all. This is a concern and it is just a waste of resources every year,” said Uttar Kumar Rai, Phuentshogling Thrompon.
Phuentshogling Thromde has already carried out a detailed project report three times considering the risks it could pose.
“The river is basically flowing between two towns. If we take care of one side, it will deflect and hit the opposite side. Regarding the stretch near the Multi car parking, if properly designed construction is not carried out, it will deflect and hit the other side of the river which is the NPPF colony and high school. So, this is critical. That way we should come up with a well-designed project.”
Thrompon said Thromde has already proposed to implement the project in the 13th Five-Year Plan. If it comes through, the Thromde will construct flood protection walls along a 3.5-kilometre stretch of Om Chhu from the confluence of Omchhu and Amo Chhu to Khariphu. The Thromde added that it will not only prevent floods but is also expected to serve as a major tourist hotspot.
Kinley Dem
