Residents of Thangna Chiwog in Dagana are disappointed after their farm road was excluded from the government’s second phase of road blacktopping in their gewog. They claim this happened despite earlier assurances from officials that the farm road connecting their village would be blacktopped this time.
The blacktopping of the Pangna-Thangna farm road was carried out under the first phase and completed in July.
But of the six and a half kilometres, only around three kilometres covering Pangna Chiwog and over half a kilometre stretching into Thangna Chiwog could be blacktopped with the ten-million-ngultrum budget.
Residents of Thangna shared their disappointment during the handing over of the road attended by gewog and district officials, as well as their local Members of Parliament. They say officials assured them then that the remaining portion of the road would be blacktopped in the next phase.
However, Thangna residents said they were upset when they learned that the budget for the second-phase farm road was instead allocated to the Pangserpo-Ambithang farm road.
Thangna Tshogpa Ugyen Lhendup said, “We were not consulted during the budget allocation. We were also unaware of how the budget allocation was done since we were not informed by the Dasho, Gup or Mangmi. There wasn’t any meeting regarding the blacktopping project.”
“Last year, we were told that a new budget would be allocated to continue the blacktopping work. Similarly, both Members of Parliament from the National Assembly and the National Council also assured us that the entire stretch would be blacktopped once they get the budget,” said Migma, a resident of Thangna.
Another resident, Jit Bdr. Bhattarai said, “Initially, we were told that the entire stretch connecting Pangna-Thangna would be blacktopped. However, later, the blacktopping was left halfway after reaching a certain point. This farm road is not for a few people. It is one of the main farm roads benefiting many commuters.”
“We would be grateful if the farm road blacktopping could be continued. We face many challenges without a blacktopped road,” said Phub Dema, another resident.
However, the Drujeygang Gup told BBS that the blacktopping of the Pangserpo–Ambithang road was carried out as per a Cabinet decision. He also denied allegations of using his authority to influence the decision in a way that benefits his own chiwog.
Meanwhile, the Drujeygang–Tseza Member of Parliament said the Pangserpo–Ambithang road was planned in consultation with the Office of Cabinet Affairs and Strategic Coordination, the gewog administration, and himself. He added that residents of Thangna have been informed that funding for the remaining work will be explored and prioritised in plans.
For now, residents of Thangna Chiwog say they can only wait and hope for a new budget to complete the remaining stretch of their farm road.
Pema Tshewang, Dagana
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
