The residents of Bajo town and nearby areas in Wangdue Phodrang still face challenges in accessing clean drinking water. For over a decade, people have been using water directly from the Baychhu stream at Rakhi Zampa since the town relocated to Bajo. There is hope that a clean drinking water supply will be provided during the 13th Five-Year Plan.
People say that the water in the Baychhu stream is unsafe for drinking, especially in the summer when wastewater and irrigation water flow into it.
The poor water condition is almost the same during winter. Currently, the water looks murky.
Residents in the town say that the existing water is only suitable for washing clothes.
For drinking, they must rely on nearby clean water sources or purchase it from suppliers.
To tackle this problem, the Wangdue Phodrang District Administration has identified a new water source at Wakhashong in Bjena Gewog.
Although the budget for the new drinking water supply project was allocated in the 12th Five-Year Plan, Thromde Officials state that it was returned due to social clearance issues.
“Initially, there were only about 25 households here. However, the number of households has increased to around 55, and we no longer receive enough water when we share the drinking water,” said Sonam Dorji, a resident.
“All the wastewater of Chhebakha village is getting into our water source. Likewise, whenever it rains, all the rainwater of Komathrang is getting into this source. So, water remains dirty for weeks where we cannot drink it,” said Passang, a resident.
Bajo Throm Ngotshab, Kinley Dorji said, “We have been receiving numerous complaints from the public, expressing concerns about the safety and insufficiency of the drinking water. At times, we find ourselves in situations where we must avoid facing the public when coming to our office in the summer, as people are becoming increasingly frustrated.”
However, the Bajo Municipal Office has proposed Nu 160 M to the government through the district administration for the project.
An official said that the 26-kilometre-long drinking water supply from Wakhashong is a priority in the next financial year of the current Five-Year Plan.
Meanwhile, a Thromde official said that the social clearance issue has not been finalised, yet.
Until the budget is secured and the two-year clean drinking water supply project is completed, people in Bajo and its surrounding areas will have to persist with the current trend of water consumption.
Changa Dorji, Wangdue Phodrang
Edited by Sherub Dorji
