Issues related to drinking water shortage were at the forefront of discussion when the people of Umling gewog in Sarpang met with their Member of Parliament (MP), the Information and Communications Minister, recently.
Locals claim that unlike in the past, some villages in the gewog have now started to experience drinking water shortage.
The constituents questioned the MP of Gelegphu constituency, Minister Karma Donen Wangdi, about the government’s pledge of providing drinking water supply round the clock. They said, with more people settling in and other developmental activities happening, the gewog is grappling with a shortage of drinking water.
“It is not that we do not have access to the required public amenities. But, with the increase in population, the number of households and other farming activities, we have started experiencing drinking water shortage,” said Ugyen Dukpa, from Umling in Sarpang.
Sarpang Dzongda Karma Galay said, through the activities planned for the district under the Water Flagship Programme, bore wells will be constructed to address the issue:
“This year, under the flagship programme for Umling gewog, we have kept Nu 6 M. This will hopefully solve the drinking water issue in Umling gewog.”
Another issue the people raised was about the Pansbari irrigation system constructed in between 2012 and 2013. They complained that they were not able to reap its benefits this season as landslides damaged the pipeline at several points and the damages were left without repair.
“There is no use having an irrigation system if it cannot be used when required. There is no one to monitor its usage. The government’s fund has gone to waste,” Ugyen Dukpa said.
“The heavy rainfall this monsoon washed away a part of the gewog connectivity road which was yet to stabilize along with the irrigation pipeline. However, we have plans to restore the road as well as the pipes once the rainy season is over,” said Ugyen Norbu, the Umling Gup.
Around 400 people from Umling and Tareythang Gewogs attended the meeting.
The two gewogs, in total, has a population of close to 4,700.
Karma Wangdi
