Many villages in the country started having a reliable drinking and irrigation water supply since the Desuung National Service Water project started. This time, the Desuups are in Khamaed Gewog in Gasa to provide a reliable irrigation water supply to the people of Damji and Jabisa chiwogs. Although the land is fertile, the farmers could not make the best of it because of irrigation water shortage.
The ground-breaking ceremony of Sebjina Irrigation Water Supply Project in Khamaed Gewog was held on Tuesday. The irrigation water will be supplied from the existing source at Sebjina which is about four kilometres from Jabisa chiwog.
About 80 Desuups will be working on the project along with Army personnel.
Until now, the farmers have been struggling to get a reliable irrigation water supply. They said due to poor irrigation channels, the water supply often gets disrupted by soil erosion.
“During the paddy transplantation season, we have to repair the irrigation channel five to six times a day. And we have to visit the site twice or thrice when we receive less rainfall during transplantation season. It affects the work when one has to repair the water channel time and again,” said Namgay, a resident.
“We have to go for maintenance by leaving our works behind. Now if we get a reliable water supply, we will get to work more. We will also revive those fallow land,” said Palang, another resident.
“We receive incessant rainfall in our region and the irrigation channel gets washed away every year. So, almost 50 per cent of the gewog budget is spent on the maintenance of irrigation water channels every year,” said Pema Wangdi, the Mangmi of Khamaed Gewog.
Agriculture officials also said about 20 per cent of the land in Damji and Jabisa chiwog is left fallow due to water shortage. There are more than 60 acres of wetland and 80 acres of dryland.
“People left some of their land fallow. So, with this water supply, I am hopeful that our people will revive the fallow land and cultivate crops. Moreover, farmers can transplant the paddy on time,” said Choeki Wangchuk, the Assistant District Agriculture Officer.
The new project will construct a water tank at the source and the water will be supplied using pipes. It is expected to be completed by the beginning of next year.
So far, the Desuung National Service Water project has completed 31 drinking and irrigation water projects across the country. And including the water project in Gasa, there are eight ongoing projects.
Changa Dorji, Gasa
Edited by Tshering Zam
