A newly completed irrigation project has brought hope to the people of Serzhong Gewog in Sarpang. Hundreds of acres of wetland that have been left fallow for decades are expected to be revived thanks to it. However, a change in plans, mainly the decision to not construct a bridge, has left the people upset. The new irrigation system was handed over to the people on Monday.
Of more than 250 acres of wetland in Serzhong Gewog, some have areca nut trees planted in them, some have fruit trees like lychees and bananas, while the rest remain mostly abandoned.
This has been the case since the old irrigation system was damaged in 1996.
But the new irrigation channel may very soon turn these underutilized lands into paddy fields once again.
Works were started in 2021 and were expected to be finished by last year had it not been for the Covid Pandemic according to officials.
Nevertheless, the project which will bring water from the Jankorong River aims to supply sufficient irrigation water to all 67 households in the gewog.
However, the residents shared mixed feelings as their expectations of having a bridge over the Thewarchhu were left unfulfilled.
“The reason why it’s better to have the pipes over the river is because we have to carry out a lot of maintenance work in the summer and it is very difficult to cross this river. But if a structure over which the pipes are laid is constructed, people can also use it to cross the river,” said Sangay Wangdi, a resident.
Pem Tshewang, a resident said, “what the farmers need is water. But the Thewar River has not been useful for us. That is why we decided to bring water from another source. And initially, the plan was to have the water pipes over the river but we don’t know why it was cancelled or changed. I don’t think it will be beneficial to us like this”
“We are hopeful the irrigation system will benefit us, but there was a plan to build a bridge over the Thewarchhu but that seems to have been cancelled. We are hoping it doesn’t prevent the water from reaching our fields,” said Wangmo, a resident.
Serzhong Gup Tshering said, “the main reason why the people want a bridge over the river is because the river swells up in the summer, and it is very difficult to cross it. So it could become difficult for the people to carry out maintenance works.”
Meanwhile, the District Engineer says they carried out the works as per instructions from the Agriculture Ministry. He added he does not know why the construction of the bridge was cancelled.
The irrigation system was constructed at a cost of almost 1.4 million ngultrum through the Green Climate Fund.
Karma Wangdi, Sarpang
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
