Residents of Trashigang’s Wamrong town and its surrounding areas continue to grapple with insufficient drinking water supply. Due to insufficient supply from the source, the issue has been persisting for over three decades, leaving the community in dire need of a sustainable solution to their water woes. Despite the Wamrong Dungkhag Administration’s preliminary survey in 2022 to tap into new water sources, the project could not proceed due to budget constraints.
30 years on, the people of Wamrong and its periphery continue facing a drinking water shortage.
The water supply, drawn from Kharungla, located approximately 15 kilometres from the town, is proving insufficient to meet the growing demand.
At present, residents receive only one hour of water supply per day from the water reservoir tank.
To cope with this scarcity, people are compelled to store drinking water using various containers, while some rely on nearby water sources for their needs.
However, these makeshift solutions offer only temporary relief. Residents are calling for an urgent need for a sustainable resolution to the longstanding water crisis.
Ugyen Tshomo, a resident said, “Since water is not sufficient, I fetch water from a neighbour for all purposes like drinking, doing dishes, and laundry. Sometimes, even their water runs out, so we must sneak and fetch. And for this, they even scold us.”
“The water problem is severe. We cannot maintain hygiene and do work on time. It creates family problems too. We cannot wash school dresses on time and do other chores while waiting for water. It is difficult,” said Kinzang Choden, a resident.
Wamrong town and its nearby areas are home to about 1000 residents, including around 30 businesses.
Wamrong Dungpa Tashi Tenzin said, “Since 2020, to address the drinking water issue here, we planned and submitted a project proposal to the former Ministry of Works and Human Settlement. The ministry requested a preliminary study, which we completed and submitted as a survey report in 2022. However, due to budget constraints largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic, the problem persists.”
He added that the dungkhag has even identified a new water source and completed the preliminary study. The dungkhag is now waiting for the budget to materialise the plan.
The dungkhag administration has also proposed a budget of 10-million-ngultrum and expects to secure funding in the first year of the 13th Five-Year Plan.
Once the new water supply is complete, it will benefit more than 400 households, including government institutions and residents in the town.
Sonam Darjay, Trashigang
Edited by Sherub Dorji
