The interim water supply project in the capital will be completed by this week. Once complete, the Thimphu Thromde said they hope to address water shortage problem in the city to some extent. The project will benefit 1,000 households of Changbangdu and lower Changzamtog area. The Thimphu thrompon, Kinlay Dorjee, said the project will help reduce pressure on the water source at Motithang.
The project began in September last year. However, the deadline of the project could not be met. The Thimphu Thromde said, it was due to the procurement procedures.
“We expected the project to be completed by March but we had problem in getting the water pumps by the suppliers. And also the machines have delayed in reaching here. We also had problems in installations of the power stations so this delayed our work for a month,” said Kinlay Dorjee.
In the next couple of days water will pumped and taken to the reservoirs located near the Buddha statue.
“At present we have only two water sources; one in Motithang and other one in Jungshina. The one in Jungshina is stable and has water supply throughout the year. While the source at Motithang is drying up and the people of Motithang, Changangkha and Changzamtog area are using water from that source,” he said, adding that the upcoming water station will lower the pressure on the Motithang source as the people of Changzamtog and Changbangdu will be using it from the new station.
A total of 1,000 cubic metres of water will be supplied every day. The cost of the on-going project is more than Nu. 12 million. It is funded by the Government of India.