Villagers, living alongside Kalikhola and Sunkosh Rivers in Lhamoi Dzingkha Dungkhag under Dagana, have to live in constant fear of flash-floods. Every year, Sunkosh River washes away a few metres of land.
Lal Bahadhur Tamang, 64, lives in Jamuney, a village along the banks of Sukosh River. He says the river is inching closer towards his house by the year. The river is just about 15 metres away from his home.
“It is risky for us. If it floods, the town and another village downstream will be washed away, along with our village.”
He said even the dungkhag office would not be spared.
While, Lal Bahadur Tamang continues to live in the area, about four families from Jamuney relocated because of the fear of flooding.
Kuendrelthang, commonly known as Majigaon, is a community located at the confluence of Sunkosh and Kalikhola rivers.
Every year, the rivers erode their arable land from both the sides putting their livelihood at risk. There are 45 households in the chiwog.
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Similarly, on the other edge of the dungkhag, along the Kalikhola River bank is Lhamoi Dzingkha Chiwog. Their concern is similar to that of Kuendrelthang villagers.
Considering the risks, in 2011, a river protection wall of 100 and 90 metres long each was constructed at two different locations along Sunkosh River bank. This has been helpful, say the villagers.
To combat the issue, villagers have also come up with their own initiative. They are planning to propose the area to be converted into a community forest.
“If it gets through, we will be planting bamboo and trees,” said Lhamoi Dzingkha’s Gup, Sherab Gyeltshen.
Another river protection wall will be constructed, this year. Nu.18 million has already been allocated for the construction of wall.
However, the Lhamoi Dzingkha Gup says the required length of wall in the gewog is about four kilometres. “It cannot be met with the current sanctioned budget.”
The tender for the upcoming protection wall has already been floated.
