For the residents of Lauri, Serthig and Langchenphu Gewogs under Jomotshangkhag Dungkhag in Samdrup Jongkhar, the onset of summer means having to battle erratic power supply. This is due to lightning strikes that often disrupt transmission lines or bring down the electric poles, which are located far away from the road point.
Just recently, lightning had struck the power lines due to which Serthig and Lauri gewogs endured the darkness for the past one week.
The power was restored in Serthig this morning and is expected the same in Lauri by today evening. But it will be down anytime.
Residents there said the frequent power cuts around this time of the year until the end of the summer have been happening since the electricity connection in 2015.
They have raised the issue several times to the gewog officials and other relevant agencies, but no avail.
“Even light rainfall affects the power lines and we experience power cuts now and then. The issue has been there for many years. Since I run a hotel, I have to store edibles in the fridge. Otherwise, we cannot cook good food for our customers,” said one of the residents in Langchenphu Gewog, Pema Norbu.
Others shared their hardships faced due to the unreliable power supply.
“Electricity is a necessity. We have to depend on it for almost all household chores. When we don’t have power for days, we have to go and collect firewood for cooking purposes,” added Ugyen Wangchuk, a resident in Serthig Gewog.
That aside, the COVID-19 pandemic demands utmost cleanliness among the residents. But, irregular power supply makes this challenging.
The Bhutan Power Corporation office in Jomotshangkha explained that since power lines and poles are located far away from the road point, tracing faulty lines is extremely difficult. And restoration works take time. But the respite is in the offing.
The BPC has plans to erect some 18 electric towers and re-install power lines and transmission boxes near the Samrang-Jomotshangkha highway.
Although the plan was shelved due to the pandemic, now the tendering works are underway for the contracts to be awarded to the suitable bidder.
Until then, residents of Serthig, Lauri, and Langchenphu will have to bear the inconveniences.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Pema Lhaden
