Most of the villages in Dechhenling Gewog of Pema Gatshel rely on water pumps to address the acute shortage of drinking water that they have been facing. Laishingri is one of the villages in the gewog. The village’s water scarcity issue was initially resolved in 2020 with the installation of a water pump funded by the government. However, the pump facility got washed away by a landslide within a year of installation. Without any response after waiting for over two years for a new pump, the residents decided to purchase a water pump themselves to tackle the shortage.
Laishingri village is located at Dechhenling Gewog in Pema Gatshel. The village residents have been grappling with a severe shortage of drinking water for years. The issue was once resolved, three years ago, after the installation of a water pump.
The pump was installed in a concrete storage tank below the village. The storage tank draws water from the source next to it. However, a landslide damaged the water pump.
Since then the villagers had been carrying water on their backs from the storage tank to their doorsteps.
Today, with the help of their relatives working as civil servants in other districts and through their contributions, Laishingri residents have been able to purchase a new water pump which was installed at the site.
“We felt the shortage of drinking water severely when our people living in other districts came for vacation. Therefore, we considered contributing labour for the installation. Our relatives residing in other districts also arrived to assist us,” said Ngawang Dema, a resident.
“Initially, the gewog provided us with the pump facility, but unfortunately, it was washed away by a landslide. The water shortage is mostly felt during the ritual ceremonies in the village. So, we have decided to take responsibility for purchasing a submersible pump. Our family members who work in other districts contributed cash, and we did our best to ensure an adequate supply of drinking water,” said Tshering Dorji, another resident.
“The relatives residing in other districts felt we were facing water scarcity. We discussed among the village residents that the government’s assistance might have been delayed as everything has to be planned. Each household in the village contributed Nu 4,000 each to acquire a pump. Even our relatives contributed,” said Dawa Seldon, a resident.
The pump supplies water from the tank to the reservoir which is constructed above the village.
The water connected from the source to the storage tank is small due to some pipe alignment issues. Nonetheless, it is a relief for the residents as they do not have to carry water on their backs.
Dawa Seldon said, “We cannot guarantee that the pump will serve us forever. We are unsure for how long we can depend on it for drinking water. The government has provided full support for us in the past. Likewise, we anticipate the same support if anything happens to our existing pump in the future.”
The water pump benefits more than 10 households in the village. Residents spent almost Nu 100,000 to install the water pump excluding the labour contribution.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Phub Gyem
