With the onset of the monsoon season, people in rural areas with poor road conditions have no choice but to bear the inconveniences. However, for the residents of Nyala Drangla chiwog under Tangsibji Gewog in Trongsa, it’s going to be a phase of change and reforms. The nine-kilometre farm road blacktopped was blacktopped in December last year after about 15 years since it was cleared.
According to the residents, the villages of Nyala and Drangla had about ten households some three decades ago. But the lack of road and electricity facilities forced people to relocate themselves along the highway.
Today, the population has grown to nearly 30 households but most of them live along the highway. Herding cattle and growing potatoes are the main economic activities of the people here.
“With the better road conditions now, we are hoping to manage and revive the lands here like in the past,” said Sacha, a resident of Nyala.
“We began to grow more potatoes here. All thanks to the paved road. We can now focus more on farming as we can easily transport produce in vehicles to places we desire,” said Sherab Tobgay, another resident.
“Three households are back here today after the road was constructed and paved. When I was a young boy, there were plenty of houses here. But life was difficult then as we carried everything on our backs. As a result, people migrated to places,” said Chimmi Dorji, a resident.
Moreover, the paved road is now attracting visitors and devotees from across the country to the two Lhakhangs of Nyala and Drangla. The Lhakhangs are known for the maleficent demoness, the Nyala Duem.
“The peace road is now enabling us to be here within a short period. This is helping us witness Tsechus and visit the Lhakhangs,” said Bidha Lham, a resident.
“Earlier, we used to return from the junction due to the bad road conditions. But now we can come here and do business and make income during festivals,” said Druptho Yangki, a shopkeeper of Lhuentse.
Meanwhile, the heavy snowfall in February this year damaged the road in certain stretches. However, the contractor has agreed to restore the road as the contract period is not over yet.
The Gewog and District engineering sector had deducted 10 per cent as security fund from the contract amount to meet such expenses.
“The gewog and dzongkhag will assess the damage and accordingly instruct the contractor for the maintenance. The contractor had also agreed to restore the road,” said Tangsibji Gup, Jigme Namgyal.
Today, the residents enjoy a smooth ride. The journey which took almost a day on foot is just a twenty minutes-drive now. The paved road has opened a door of opportunities for residents besides easing the lives of monks of Nyala and Drangla Lhakhangs.
Passang, Trongsa
Edited by Sonam Pem
