When the pipes of the De-Suung National Service Water Project were first laid in Khar village, they did not just carry water, they carried hope. But what seemed like a lifeline at first soon revealed a new challenge with only one caretaker overseeing the facility. Now, through collaboration and shared responsibility, the people of Khar are finding new ways to ensure that the water keeps flowing for everyone.
Khar village is one of the two places in Pema Gatshel that received the De-suung National Service Water Project a few years ago. The project provided essential relief to residents who had long-faced water shortages. Initially, maintenance was managed by a single caretaker, which proved challenging due to the lengthy water transmission lines. To overcome this challenge, the community decided to come together, organising themselves into groups to ensure the facility’s upkeep.
Khar-Yajur Tshogpa Tsheltrim Lhundup said, “We have agreed that the next group will assist the current group with major tasks, especially those that involve navigating cliffs and thick forests. After this collaborative approach is in place, we have not faced a water shortage since.”
“For example, I may not know how to fix things, but I can always ask someone for help. This way, we learn while getting the job done,” said Tashi Lhamo, a resident.
“When the caretaker was alone, it was difficult for him. Now that we have more people, we can tackle problems together. During our shifts, five of us work on repairs and solutions,” said Sonam Dorji, another resident.
Five households are grouped into teams, with each group monitoring water supply for a month. This group is currently repairing the pipeline, addressing breaks and leaks. The chiwog tshogpa emphasised that this initiative is about sharing responsibility among community members too.
The tshogpa said, “They said that they understand the government’s struggles and would share the burden. Moving forward, we will take responsibility for maintenance, but we need the Gewog administration’s support in providing materials. We have even supplied pipes for the repairs.”
Currently, over 40 households in Khar village are benefited from the facility. As the water continues to flow through the village’s pipelines, the future is clear; in Khar, the water will always flow, as long as the people continue to stand side by side.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Kipchu
