In the next 10 years, Thimphu is likely to face daily water shortage of about 3.1 million litres. This is according to a draft strategic environment assessment report for Thimphu structure plan.
The draft report was recently presented at a public consultation meeting in Thimphu. Issues like housing, pollution and waste management among others were discussed. The issue of water shortage was one the priority.
Ministry of Works and Human Settlement officials said the report was prepared projecting two different scenarios.
“We are presenting our issues for the population that was as per the Thimphu Structural Plan. If Thimphu Structural plan has a population of 160,000 people by the year 2027, how would the situation be and how we should address the issues that we face,” told the Deputy Chief Environment Officer of MoWHS, Sonam Desel to BBS. “And likely, for the second scenario, it is for the same year as per the Thimphu Structural plan’s timeline horizon, for 2027 with a population of 200,000.”
Thimphu Thromde, however, says the there will be no water shortage in the future with the completion of Central Water Supply Scheme Project. The stream water, located two kilometres above Dordena, will be diverted to the Thromde’s water supply network. The Thormde is currently working to channel the water. “Dordena water supply is going to reach right up to Changjiji housing whereby even the shortage in Changjiji housing colony will be resolved with water coming from Dordena, there is enough capacity, enough water source and we have enough treatment plan being set up so that water is enough, even we are targeting to make 24 hours water supply to every house in the city,” said Thimphu Thrompon, Kinlay Dorjee.
The report also contains recommendations to address the issue. Advocating people on proper water management, according to the officials, is one of the recommendations.
As per the draft report, only around 30 per cent of the residents in Thimphu have access to 24 hours water supply.
