Residents of Ngangtshothang Toed Chiwog of Samdrup Jongkhar’s Tashithang Gewog, earlier known as Samrang Gewog, are urging the construction of a flood protection wall along the Samrang River. Every monsoon, the river swells and threatens to wash away homes, farmland, and livestock, leaving villagers in constant fear for their lives and properties.
Every monsoon, the swelling river inches closer to the settlement, eroding land and threatening homes.
Residents say it is important to carry out mitigation works before the river reaches the settlement and causes damage to lives and properties.
During this monsoon, the river has swollen dangerously close to the solar fencing, leaving just about 50 metres between the riverbank and the nearest houses.
Lakman Rai, a resident of Tashithang Gewog said, “We had made protection wall before, but during the heavy rain it got washed away, now the river is left without any wall to protect it. Last monsoon, the river reached near our homes.”
Birkha Bhadhur Subba, another resident said, “During heavy rain, the river swells and threatens our properties. The riverbanks has now reached very close to our homes, so we are hoping that the government will take the necessary measure.”
The Tashithang Gewog Administration says it has proposed Nu 4 M in the next financial year to construct a river protection wall. However, the gewog office does not have sufficient budget to build the entire one-kilometre stretch of the wall and is currently seeking additional funds.
Jigme Singay Drukpa, Tashithang Gup said, “It will cost around Nu 20 M to build the protection wall. The gewog administration, along with the engineering section, has estimated the cost. We have proposed about Nu 15 M to the BTFEC, and we are hopeful that we will receive the budget from there.”
For now, the people of Ngangtshothang Toed can only hope that the proposed project receives timely funding so they can feel safe from the recurring monsoon floods.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Kipchu
