Dire situations can be a good reminder of things that have been forgotten. At Wangchang Gewog in Paro, the unusually dry summer this year has resulted in farmers and local leaders of four villages resorting to a failed water project. The project initiated almost a decade ago, failed to function and was then left forgotten till now.
From afar, the fields in Jangtena village look green and serene with paddy cultivation works having been recently completed. But the people here say they struggled to get the work done in time due to the dry summer.
They shared that the small stream which they have been relying on so far for irrigation has also become smaller this year.
“We have a small stream flowing through our village but we have to share it with Nankha Chiwog. And we have to divide that water amongst ourselves. One household cannot even water a single terrace,” said Karma, a farmer.
“We have to take turns watering our fields using the stream. It is inconvenient and the water isn’t sufficient. When it reaches our turn, we start to irrigate the fields as early as 4 AM, but we cannot fill even one terrace,” said Tshering Pem, another farmer.
To address the water issues faced by Jangtena and three more villages, a water pump project was initiated in 2016. But after spending around Nu 6 M, the project which was intended to pump water from the Pachhu was unsuccessful. It was found that the water pipes were too small and burst during the trial.
Villagers recall maintenance work being carried out but that too failed, and after that, the project was forgotten.
“The Gewog office did some maintenance work but that too didn’t work, the pipes kept bursting. The water couldn’t be pumped to the reservoir,” said Tandin Dorji, a farmer.
“Irrigation water is scarce here and it is getting worse. If we put the water from the stream in the fields that are being ploughed, then we don’t have water for the fields that have been cultivated,” said Lam Tshering, another farmer.
According to Wangchang Gup, the project was investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission during his predecessor’s term. And because of that, he says repair works could not be carried out.
The issue was recently discussed during the Gewog Tshogde and the office has decided to carry out restoration works on the water pump.
“This year due to poor rainfall people repeatedly complained to us about their hardships. So we formed a team and visited the facility. We found that the pipe from the main machine is just four inches and at the other end, it is eight inches, so that may be the reason it didn’t work. So we have now decided to change all the pipes by the end of this year,” said Wangchang Gup, Gyelpo Tshering.
The Gup says the manual works will have to be carried out by the people, while the technical support and equipment will be provided by the Gewog office. He shared that the work is supposed to finish by the end of the year.
If the water pump project is restored, it is expected to benefit around 200 households in the two chiwogs of Nangkha Mendi and Chankar-Jangtena.
Namgay Wangchuk, Paro
Edited by Yeshi Gyaltshen
