The residents of Bragtsa and Togshing village in Toedtsho Gewog of Trashi Yangtse have been without safe drinking water for about four months now. The water ran dry in these villages after their water pipes were damaged while constructing a road and parking near Tsangphuchen Primary School.
The residents have been collecting water from the nearby chiwogs in jerry cans. Drinking water is stored in barrels.
Their taps are without water.
“Our vegetables are withering without water. Let alone irrigation, there isn’t enough water for consumption. We can otherwise grow varieties of vegetables. We got drinking water for over a year after the De-Suung water project was completed. But now, there are frequent pipe breakages. We cannot even repair the pipes since we can’t get big pipes like the ones Desuups have used,” said Jigme, a resident of Togshing.
Some people say they use drain water to wash clothes and to feed domestic animals.
After the completion of the De-Suung water project in 2021, the residents of these villages had uninterrupted drinking water supply up until September this year.
The water pipes were damaged while constructing a road to Tsangphuchen Primary School and extending the parking area near the school.
According to the Toedtsho Gewog Administration, the road and the parking for the school were constructed to ease the burden of carrying ration to the school.
The Gewog Administration, however, says the water issue will be resolved soon.
Toedtsho Gup Dechen Wangdi said, “As soon as I received the notice from village Tsogpas, I immediately asked the Gewog Administrative Officer to investigate the issue and carry out necessary actions to solve the problem. She immediately investigated and ordered the pipes. The pipes are delivered already.”
There are some 200 residents in Bragtsa and around 300 residents in Togshing village.
Ngawang Tenzin, Trashi Yangste
Edited by Sangay Chezom
