People of Peltari Chiwog in Kabisa in Punakha are requesting the government to blacktop the chiwog’s farm road. They said the road condition has become worse causing inconveniences. The road is mostly used for transporting agricultural products to market.
The seven-kilometre farm road which was constructed about two decades ago is now filled with potholes.
There are around 45 households in the chiwog using the road.
The road was once laid with stone soling and that has benefited the residents. But gradually, the road condition started to deteriorate.
During monsoon, the road becomes muddy and slippery. So, the residents are requesting to blacktop it.
Kezang Dorji, a resident said “We never get taxis from town while coming to our village. Taxi drivers say their vehicle maintenance costs are more than what they get as taxi fares. Taxi drivers refuse to come to our village, so we have to walk. The road becomes muddy in summer. We are facing inconveniences.”
Chhimi, another resident said “We have only light vehicles and with the road being filled with potholes and gravel, our vehicles are getting hit and damaging mobile chamber and silencer pipes. Our village is located in a remote place.”
Chithra, a resident of Sirigang-Wakoo-Damchhi Chiwog said “Earlier, we used to pay only Nu 200 for taxis, but now, taxis are refusing to come here even at Nu 400 to 500. We would be grateful if the road could be blacktopped.
“We are requesting a blacktop since the road condition has become extremely poor,” said Sangay, a resident of Peltari Chiwog.
People of the Peltari Chiwog cultivate paddy and vegetables as their cash crops.
Officials from the gewog administration said they do not have enough budget to blacktop the road.
According to an official from the district administration, over 33 million ngultrum has been proposed to the Office of the Cabinet Affairs and Strategic Coordination from the Small Development Project in the 13th Five Year Plan for the blacktopping of this chiwog connectivity road.
For now, the people of the chiwog will have to negotiate the uneven surface and the muddy stretches until the budget is approved.
Changa Dorji, Punakha
Edited by Tshering Zam
