Lunana Gewog in Gasa is trying every possible way to reduce travel distances and ensure a year-round access route for the residents. Currently, they can barely travel during winter as the route remains covered with thick snow. So, the Gewog administration is exploring a shorter-distance mule track.
During this time of the year, the residents of Lunana Gewog return home from their winter residence.
Some of the residents opt for helicopter service while others travel through the mule track, along with their horses carrying their ration.
It takes around seven to eight days of arduous journey to reach the area.
“There are risks to the lives of people and even animals lose their lives while travelling along the existing trail. Therefore, the new proposed mule track is along Phochhu which is safer,” said Kaka, Lunana Gup.
So, Lunana Gup and a team carried out a shorter-distance mule track feasibility survey from the nearest road point in Kewana in Punakha to Lunana in Gasa. The travel time for the proposed track is two and a half days.
They surveyed the proposed route along the Phochhu by clearing bushes which took them 35 days.
They have spent around 1.4 million ngultrum for the survey.
During the survey, some sections of the proposed track passed through thick forest, the core zone of Jigme Dorji National Park and Wangchuck Centennial National Park, and the winter habitat of Takins and other wildlife.
Consequently, the proposal has been rejected by the office of Jigme Dorji National Park at Damji in Gasa.
The Chief Forestry Officer over a telephone interview said the Forest and Nature Conservation Act 2023 restricts it. However, the Park office recommends finding other routes that do not fall under the core zone.
“Of course, some parts of our proposed mule track fall under Jigme Dorji National Park. So, we are looking for areas that do not fall under the core area,” said Lunana Gup.
The gup added that having a shorter route will help bring development to Lunana Gewog.
“Currently, Lunana neither has electricity supply nor motorable road and reliable mobile network. Our gewog is a remote place. The proposed mule track would help us to advance towards development.”
Lunana Gewog has more than two hundred households.
Changa Dorji, Gasa
Edited by Tshering Zam
