Residents of Papaling village in Chhukha are worried about how they will manage the coming monsoon. Their farm road remains in poor condition, and they say the situation threatens both their livelihoods and access to basic services. Papaling lies far from its gewog centre. With schools, hospitals, and markets located far away, villagers fear another difficult season ahead.
Papaling village, registered under Dungna Gewog, sits across from Bueltikha in Paro, more than 14 kilometres from the Bueltikha junction.
Reaching the village means travelling along a steep, rough uphill road. Smaller vehicles often struggle to make the journey.
Residents say the road was constructed in 2016 and has undergone minor maintenance only.
With the monsoon approaching, villagers worry the already fragile road will deteriorate further. If that happens, they fear it will become even harder to transport their farm produce and reach essential services.
“It is very challenging to take our vegetables to the market, given the road conditions here. We have to pull vehicles with ropes or push them, and often get stuck in the middle of the road. Even to bring in essentials, we have to carry them on our backs halfway,” said Pem, a resident of Papaling.
Another resident Najay said, “Poor road condition here is a major issue. We would be grateful even if a base course could be laid. The road becomes impassable when it rains. This is especially difficult during emergencies, and with the rains, we cannot take our vegetables to market. They are left here to rot.”
“We are located in a remote area, far from basic facilities like a hospital. In winter, we can use the road, but during the rains, its condition worsens, causing serious inconvenience. In the monsoon, the road becomes unusable, and our vegetables, especially potatoes, end up rotting at home as we cannot take them to market on time,” said Chencho Dem, also a resident.
The village’s administrative status further complicates the situation. Residents say there has long been confusion over whether Papaling falls under Dungna or Maedtekha Gewog.
Because of this, villagers say they are unsure which gewog office to approach for development support.
For the residents of Papaling, the concern is immediate. As the monsoon draws closer, they say the condition of the road will once again decide whether their produce reaches the market or remains in the village.
Kinley Dem
Edited by Sangay Chezom
