An incomplete irrigation water project at Kanakha village in Dagana’s Kana Gewog has left the farmers unable to transplant paddy on more than a hundred acres of land for two consecutive years. As a result, a few villagers have even left the village. Despite assurances to arrange temporary irrigation water for this year’s paddy cultivation, the district and Gewog administrations, and the contractor failed to deliver.
The construction of the irrigation channel which is around 4.5 kilometres long began in October 2021. It was supposed to be completed by October last year. The project is funded through the Water Flagship Programme costing over Nu 18 M.
Through this project, the old irrigation water source will be combined with a new source. Because of this, the old water source is inaccessible for now.
With the construction of the channel incomplete, farmers have left more than 120 acres of paddy fields fallow due to the absence of irrigation water. Despite growing paddy saplings in hope of cultivation, villagers now have to feed them to their cattle.
“The gewog and district administrations and the contractor have agreed to help us if we cannot grow paddy this year. But nothing has been done so far. They have a plan to distribute seeds but, in every village, whether we can cultivate paddy or not we get the seeds,” said Moti Lal Bhattarai, a farmer.
“It is not a problem for those families who can afford to buy rice but it is a problem for low-income families like us who cannot afford it,” said Tobgay, another farmer.
BBS learnt that four families left the village in the last few months looking for other sources of income. Villagers said another family is also planning to leave the village soon.
“It has been two years now since I started working as a wage worker. I buy rice from shops. But I am worried because I am not able to get work at construction sites easily now,” said Damber Singh Kamal, a farmer.
“For those families with men, they manage their living by working at construction sites. But those families without men are having a difficult time raising their children. Some families left the village,” said Sithay, another farmer.
To this, the district engineer said, the contractor failed to complete the project despite giving contract extensions. The district engineer added that the district tender committee has issued a show cause notice to the contractor which is a reminder to terminate the contract.
The district engineer said that the contractor should complete the work within 15 days after the notice was issued or else the contract will be terminated. The 15-day period ends on Thursday.
The district engineer said they tried to connect a temporary irrigation water to the village but it failed due to some inconveniences. However, he said, they will distribute paddy seeds to farmers next season.
Meanwhile, the contractor said the work could not be completed on time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The contractor said he faced difficulty in procuring construction materials, and officials from ARDC Bajo in Wangdue Phodrang who are providing technical expertise did not visit on time. He also said he was asked to redo some portion of the work after the district administration said that the works were not in accordance with the drawing.
The contractor also said his firm was discouraged to carry out the work after the district tender committee issued the show cause notice.
The contractor added that the district tender committee did not give a time extension for the additional work executed, which was not in the initial plan. However, the district administration said that they have given enough time extensions for the project.
While it may take some time to complete the project, the farmers want the remaining work to complete before the start of the next paddy transplantation season.
The village currently has over 30 households that depend on paddy for their livelihood.
Pema Tshewang, Dagana
Edited by Tshering Zam
