Residents of Narphung and Tshangchilo in Samdrup Jongkhar’s Gomdar Gewog are grappling with a growing waste problem. With no proper disposal site identified so far, piles of garbage have become a daily eyesore and a concern for the communities.
Piles of waste stacked near the shops are a common sight in Tshangchilo.
The small settlement with school, hospital, bank and other businesses still lacks a proper waste disposal site. As a result, many continue to burn their waste by riverbanks, which pose risks to both the environment and public health.ties.
“We do not have a proper place to dispose of our waste, so people end up burning it. If we just let it pile up, it looks bad. Burning is the only option for now. But if a proper disposal site could be identified, it would really help us,” said Tenzin Dema, Resident, Tshangchhilo, Gomdar Gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar.
“We really need a waste disposal site here. Without it, we have no choice but to burn the waste. When we try to burn it elsewhere, people do not allow us, so we end up burning it here in our own area,” said Phurba, Resident, Tshangchilo, Gomdar Gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar.
The situation is much the same in Narphung, where the small roadside town continues to pile up garbage along the street, in the backyard and near shops.
Some residents here say they take waste to the Samdrup Jongkhar thromde landfill, which is approximately 70 kilometres from Narphung town.
“The town would look much nicer if we had a waste disposal site here. Sometimes, I take waste all the way to Samdrup Jongkhar thromde landfill, but I don’t know about others. Without a proper site here, it is a problem for us,” said Wangdi, Resident, Narphung, Gomdar Gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar.
“Without a waste disposal site, we are facing a problem. Taking the waste to Samdrup Jongkhar is too far. It would be a big help if we got a disposal site here. Right now, we just dispose of the wet waste, while the rest is left piled up,” said Lobzang Dema, Resident, Narphung, Gomdar Gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar.
“Travellers also leave behind a lot of waste. We once tried taking waste to Samdrup Jongkhar thromde landfill, but they did not allow us to dump it there. So now, it just stays piled up like this,” said Ugyen Jamtsho, Resident, Narphung, Gomdar Gewog, Samdrup Jongkhar.
According to Gomdar Gup, an earlier site identified for a waste disposal facility was too close to a settlement. As a result, public objections prevented further construction. The gewog administration is still searching for a suitable location.
Meanwhile, the gup said the gewog administration, with support from the district, plans to request a garbage truck from the Samdrup Jongkhar thromde at least once a month to clear the waste.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Phub Gyem
