The worsening irrigation water crisis has finally come to an end in Wangringmo under Ramjar Gewog in Trashi Yangtse. The irrigation water project which began in January was inaugurated yesterday.
More than 330 households of Ramjar make a living by farming. The farmers have been sharing small irrigation water which has become insufficient with time. They have been depending on rainwater. But the newly inaugurated water project has restored hope among farmers.
“We will use our fallow land to produce more. We will not only cultivate for self-consumption but also to sell the vegetables. Till now, most of our people have left their land fallow due to water shortage,” said Tshering Dorji, a resident of Pangthang village under Ramjar Gewog.
“Rainfall is the only source of water out here. Without rain, it’s difficult to cultivate paddy and grow other vegetables. But with His Majesty’s initiative of the DeSuup water scheme, we are hoping we will not be confronted with the water shortage,” said Namgay Wangmo, a resident of Tagdzong.
“After a tiring walk from home, we come here for paddy cultivation only to see no water. And then we have to manage water to cultivate paddy which takes around a week. Water shortage is a huge problem here. We are thankful to His Majesty for initiating the water project and the DeSuups for working tirelessly to make it happen,” said Yeshi Wangdi, a resident of Romang village.
A total of 50 DeSuups were deployed for the irrigation construction for around seven months. The water scheme was constructed at a cost of around 13 million Ngultrum. The project will bring water from a source at Lungdidrang under Tongmajangsa Gewog which is about seven kilometres from Wangringmo.
Sonam Darjay, Tashi Yangtse
Edited by Sonam Pem
