During the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu sitting in Sarpang Dzongkhag, members quizzed the Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC) officials as to why 121 homes in five gewogs (Umling, Chhudzom, Senggey, Dekiling and Gakiling) are still not electrified.
Local leaders said, BPC’s mandate is to provide electricity to each and every household in rural Bhutan. But, there are still some chiwogs and villages that are deprived of electricity in Sarpang.
“Without power, villagers are faced with many problems. We have submitted letter to BPC for electricity and they completed the survey in the villages last year. But now, we are waiting for update from BPC,” said Bishnu Prasad Rai, the Gup of Chhudzom Gewog.
Others in the house echoed similar views. “Thirty households in Chubarshong are without electricity. We would like to know when these houses will be electrified,” added Mangmi of Umling Gewog, Sangay Tenzin.
However, the BPC officials reasoned that due to arrival of late proposals from the respective gewogs, electrification works in some villages in five gewogs were left out. But, they assured that these villages will soon get electricity.
“In August or September this year, we will hand over the work to the contractor,” said Tshering Norbu, the Senior Manager of Electricity Supply Division, BPC regional office in Gelegphu.
The electrification project is expected to be complete by the end of 2019. It will be funded by the Japanese Government.
