For over three years, residents of Dungmanma village in Samdrup Jongkhar’s Lauri Gewog have been grappling with a severe drinking water shortage. The water crisis has not only disrupted daily life but also made it difficult for villagers to maintain basic hygiene, raising concerns over health and sanitation.
In the lower part of Dungmanma village, residents like Ugyen Lhamo face even greater challenges.
The water supply is limited so it often fails to fill even a 15-litre bucket, making daily chores and hygiene difficult.
Ugyen Lhamo said,“ In the morning, we have to wash dishes, and in the evening, clothes. But we can’t maintain proper hygiene. I live in the lower part of the village, where even the school is located, and we don’t have enough water supply.”
The water supply system sourced from Mantshang has been in place for over 12 years. With the source now drying up, around 50 households are struggling daily for a reliable supply.
“Water is not enough for drinking, and it is not enough for washing and cultivating vegetables too. We face many problems without water,” said Dema, a resident.
“Before, water was enough, but now maybe the source is dried up we don’t receive enough water. When the upper part of the village gets water, the lower part doesn’t,” said Dejom Choden, a resident.
“It would be great if the government provided us with an additional water supply. Forget about cultivating vegetables, we don’t have enough water for drinking,” said Dorji Norbu, a resident.
Potato farming is one of the main sources of income for most households. However, now even the potato crops are dying, adding to the villagers’ hardships.
The help is underway. Lauri Gewog Administration, with help from the gewog agriculture extension office, will provide an additional water supply from the new water source under a performance-based climate resilient grant.
Currently, most of the materials have reached the site, and villagers will contribute labour.
Betseling-Dungmanma Tshogpa Pema Norbu said, “For drinking and as well as for irrigation purposes, the gewog and agriculture office has provided a budget. We will start the work within two to three days from now.”
The work is expected to be completed by June.
As they wait for the new water supply, they hold on to the hope that their daily struggle for water will soon end.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Sangay Chezom
