The Government of Japan has agreed to improve Taklai Irrigation System in Sarpang, which means, the Japanese Government will bear the provisional cost of the project components including detail design, construction works, intake structure, headword, and canal among others.
On the other hand, the Bhutanese government will bear the cost for rehabilitation of the access road, electricity connection and space to the project site.
In order to finalise the components of the proposed project, Bhutan received Draft Report Explanation Team led by Narihide Nagayo, the Senior Advisor to JICA from September 13-21.
Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has been entrusted with the preparatory survey.
The team has already visited the site at Taklai and has held discussions with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests and Gross National Happiness Commission.
The first preparatory survey team carried out the field survey work from January to February this year.
The Taklai irrigation system is the oldest irrigation scheme in Bhutan. It is situated along the Taklai River which flows through two gewogs, Chuzargang and Sershong under Gelephu Dungkhag.
Due to flooding of Taklai River over past couple of years, the Taklai irrigation intake and the network structure has become vulnerable. Moreover, the trial for farm mechanization which is underway in Chuzargang and Sershong gewogs, depends on Taklai Irrigation Scheme for irrigation water. Failure to tackle the irrigation problem could derail farm mechanization program and make it unsustainable.
