Electricity is becoming a rare commodity in Zhemgang. People in the district have been experiencing erratic power supply, with power outages sometimes lasting several days or even weeks. This has been affecting the everyday lives of the residents as well as the functioning of the various offices and institutes.
No sooner the sun sets, people in Zhemgang town have to take refuge in candles and torches to light their homes.
People say this is an everyday affair. Although they have been frequently notifying the relevant authorities, they say nothing has been done so far.
“In Zhemgang, the power supply is very erratic. Every night the lights go out at least three times. In the day, the power gets cut off at least four times,” said Tsenda Dorji, a resident of Zhemgang Town.
Another town resident Tashi Choden said they are facing frequent power outages these days, and we have been complaining to the BPC officials here for a solution, and they said they are working on it.”
People say the duration of power outages has started to increase now. Sometimes it takes days for the electricity connection to return only for it to get disconnected again.
The situation is even worse in other parts of the district where people have reported being without electricity for several weeks.
“Sometimes the lights go out early in the morning; it also goes out frequently at night. Even right now, we don’t have electricity. The power supply is very erratic here,” said Pema Tsedar, who lives in Pantang under Phangkhar Gewog.
“Whether it is during the monsoon days or in winter, the lights go out frequently here. We are facing a lot of problems. And when we call the officials, they say they are coming to restore the power but they never do,” said Pema Chophel, from Tshanglajong under Trong Gewog.
The frequent power outages in the district have also been affecting the schools especially with their ICT lessons.
Meanwhile, the Bhutan Power Corporation said the recent power supply interruptions in Zhemgang is due to daily power shutdown for maintenance and annual clearing works. They stated most transmission lines in the district pass through thick forests that are exposed to many external disturbances that cause power interruptions. They keep the lines running by regularly clearing the vegetation which was started recently.
According to the district administration, Zhemgang has a population of almost 18,000 people. Almost all homes in the district are connected to electricity.
Pema Samdrup, Zhemgang
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
