The long-awaited dream of having a farm road for the residents of Tshug Tshug Shing and Rotpa villages at Shermung Gewog in Monggar is finally becoming a reality. Residents say they have been proposing for the farm roads since the first local government’s tenure. The road construction in Tshug Tshug Shing is currently underway, while the Rotpa farm road has already been completed.
The Tshug Tshug Shing farm road construction is the last road to be constructed in Malang-Serzhong Chiwog in Shermung Gewog. The 1.5-kilometre farm road will benefit seven households in the village.
The construction work started earlier this month by spending about Nu 1.4 M. The ongoing farm road construction work is expected to complete within two months.
“We submitted the proposal to construct a farm road during the first Gup’s tenure. But the Gup did not visit the village. During the second Gup’s tenure, the Gup visited the village but we are unaware of what happened after that. We had to pay about Nu 2,000 till the road point for transportation and from the road point, we have to pay almost Nu 7,000 to 8,000 to labourers to carry the loads,” said Sonam Gyeltshen, a resident.
“We are thankful as the road construction is ongoing. We have proposed the road in the past but we do not know why it was not materialised. The farm road connectivity is important as we depend on agriculture. We need to transport the oranges and cardamom so, a road is necessary. Until today, we had to carry on our backs but we hope the road will benefit us a lot,” said Karma Gyelmo, another resident.
Similarly, the construction of the 1.4-kilometre farm road in Rotpa village in Soenakhar-Yarab Chiwog has been completed benefitting about 60 residents.
“It has been over a month since the construction of the road was completed. We are happy that we can bring everything to our doorsteps after the construction of the road. In the absence of a road in the past, it was difficult especially when we had to carry patients till road point,” said Tshewang Lhamo, a resident.
“We are happy that our village is connected with the road. In the past, it was difficult for us to carry fodders for cattle. Moreover, we used to sell vegetables to the schools and we had to carry it on our backs,” said Karma Choden, another resident.
“The farmers here depend on agriculture and livestock. So, there is no way to boost their economy without a road. The Gewog Tshogde prioritised the road construction as it will benefit them,” said Dorji, the Shermung Gup.
The road connectivity in these two villages is expected to transform the lives of the villagers, especially in transporting their farm produce.
Karma Wangdi
Edited by Tshering Zam
