Chhimung Gewog in Pema Gatshel is among the few gewogs in the country without a blacktopped road. About a year after the gewog was supposed to have its gewog centre road blacktopped, the residents are worried that the delay will stretch further. This is because of the slow progress in the execution of the works by the contractors.
Chimung is the only gewog in Pema Gatshel without a blacktopped road. The work to blacktop its GC road was awarded to contractors in mid-2020. While the contractors were supposed to complete the blacktopping works by the end of last year, there was not much of progress even today. This has not gone well with the residents.
According to them, the half-done works are posing a threat to them. “The road gets washed by the rain when the side of the road is left with wall construction under progress. So, we get cut off during the rainy season and we face problems in transporting our essential goods and visiting hospital,” said Norbu Chojay, in Chhimung.
“If the road is not in good condition, the vehicle owners don’t want to travel even when we face an emergency. We even face problems in transporting the materials, provided by the dzongkhag to gewog for developmental activities,” added Chhimung Tshogpa Pema Khandu.
Some also accuse the contractors of not speeding up the road.
“The construction works were stopped during the rainy season. But we don’t see them resuming the work even after the weather improved. We don’t know whether they will do it or not. And we even don’t know where the contractor lives. Now it’s more than two years after starting the work,” said Mangmi, in Chhimung.
According to some residents, there was not much progress because two contract packages were awarded to a single contractor. The work was divided into three packages.
“We understand that packages I, II, and III are made so that the works can be completed on time. So, the logic is to award the packages to different contractors to speed up the progress. We think it is a loophole to award two packages to one contractor,” said Phobzang, also in Chhimung.
The gewog administration is also worried about the completion of the work within the given duration. The contractors were asked to complete the work by the end of this year.
“Now if they wanted to complete the work within three to four months, they must rush. So, we are worried it would hamper maintaining the quality. And to have the road blacktopped, they must install the plant and it nearly takes three months to get it well set up. At the same time, we are also worried about its completion too,” said Chhimung Gup Yeshi Wangdi.
While the district officials refused to comment officially fearing backlash for speaking to the media, they said they will ensure that the work completes on time without compromising the quality.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Sonam
