In Trashigang’s Radhi Gewog, poorly maintained channels and inadequate drainage systems have left farmers vulnerable to flash floods during the monsoon. Each year, overflowing irrigation water washes away paddy fields and roads, resulting in losses for farmers.
Farmers in Radhi Gewog cultivate paddy on more than 800 acres of land, producing over 1,800 metric tonnes of rice annually.
Irrigation is their lifeline, yet they lack proper channels.
Most depend on open earth canals and roadside drains to supply water to their fields, while some divert nearby streams.
During the monsoon, these makeshift channels turn into a problem as rainwater mixes with irrigation and drain water from households, causing the drains to overflow.
Just recently, such a flash flood damaged the gewog centre road and washed away paddy fields in the lower areas. Incidents like this occur every year.
“We supply a small amount of water to our fields, but when it rains, waste from houses and roadside drainage water accumulates and increases the water volume. The road gets damaged. We tried to clear the debris along the open channel, but it did not help. The overflowing water floods our paddy fields and damages the crops,” said Ugyen Gyeltshen, a farmer.
Another farmer, Kinzang Wangmo said, “Some farmers supply water to their paddy fields but do not divert it properly. When it rains, the water volume increases, causing damage to the road. Here, almost every farmer cultivates paddy and channels water, and that is one of the reasons the road gets damaged. Recently, a flash flood damaged the road, and it remained closed to traffic for almost a week.”
No human casualties have been reported so far, but fear continues to linger among the people.
The gewog office is now planning to construct a proper irrigation and drainage system.
Radhi Gup Younten Phuntsho said, “Within two to three years, we are planning to allocate three to four million ngultrum to provide a pipeline for irrigation. As for wastewater from households and drainage, we plan to construct a proper drainage system. The gewog office is also discussing submitting a project proposal to the ministry.”
Farmers now hope that the plan for a proper drainage system will soon materialise and finally bring them some relief.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Sangay Chezom
