The long-standing water shortage at Nagya Gewog in Paro finally comes to an end with the completion of the water project. From the five Desuung Water Flagship Projects, four were completed and handed over to the people of the Gewog yesterday. The 86 beneficiaries will hereafter manage and take care of the water project. The remaining project will be carried out at Bemphu village when the weather is favourable.
The people have been facing the water shortage for more than a decade. More than 70 Desuups were involved in the project which took four months to complete.
“With handing taking of this project, 70 per cent of the water issues will be addressed in the gewog. In the past, we planned and allocated a budget for minor maintenance with the help of the public contributing their labour. There are a few water projects which have already been tendered out and are expected to address the water problem by 90 per cent,” said Kinley Wangdi, Nagya Gup.
“We had been facing an acute water shortage. Now I am confident the water woes will be solved for another 40-50 years. I say this because the work quality is beyond expectation which was carried out by Desuups,” added Chundu Tshering, Nagya Mangmi.
“The project will benefit three villages in my Chiwog. We had been facing a water shortage for a very long. And it is mainly due to the rising population while the existing water supply infrastructure is small and worn out. Now the problem is solved and we are grateful,” added Tshering Pem, Bueltikha-Jagoen Tshogpa.
The water project also appointed four caretakers from four chiwogs and handed them the necessary tools to carry out maintenance.
“We have trained the water caretaker to do maintenance in the future. They were familiarized with all the necessary knowledge and skills. Moreover, if we put such practice in place they will take ownership and take extra care,” said Gem Tshering, the Executive Engineer of the water project.
Desuung water flagship project in collaboration with the works and human settlement ministry kicked off the water service project from Mongar last year. Nearly 17 such projects are underway, from which six projects have already been handed over to the communities across the country.
Namgay Wangchuk, Paro
