From a talk in a locality to a political pledge, Dhur farm road in Chhoekhor Gewog saw increasing traffic of promises in recent times. The road is in need of maintenance and it was once again raised at the Bumthang Dzongkhag Tshogdu recently. The issue was also raised in past Dzongkhag Tshogdu sessions, however, nothing much has been done to improve the road. The NRDCL, a stone quarry operator and Dhur people use the road. It is also one of the three roads the Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa pledged to blacktop during last year’s Chhoekhor-Tang bye-election.
Pothole-ridden, slippery and muddy, the road is not safe for light vehicles today. Residents blame the NRDCL’s timber-carrying trucks and the stone quarry’s heavy vehicles for the damages. A new quarry is also being set up at Dhur recently which is expected to add to the damages. Though the NRDCL and the stone quarry operator maintain the road occasionally, people say its condition worsens in no time.
“We can hardly get taxis willing to drop us to our village. Even if the taxi drivers agree, the fare is too high. Last year, it was Nu 700, now it has been raised to Nu 800 and at night, they even charge Nu 1,000. During last year’s bye-election, we were promised that the road would be blacktopped immediately after the election but now it is left unattended,” said Tshering Dorji from Dhur.
“We are yet to see the bye-election pledge come to fruition. Regarding the damages, the villagers don’t have any heavy vehicles using the road, so most of the damages are caused by the tipper trucks carrying timber and stones,” added Phurpa, also from Dhur.
People in the village are also worried that it would be quite some time before the road maintenance work starts. The Dhur Tshogpa, Sonam Phuntsho, said their road will only be maintained after the Chhoekhor Toed farm road is maintained. “However, people here are requesting the Dzongkhag Administration to start the work as soon as possible,” he added.
According to Chhoekhor Gup Pema Doengyel, people who use the road should be held responsible for any damage they cause. He raised the issue at the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu.
“Be it NRDCL or the quarry operators, if there isn’t a proper by-law developed, no one would be obligated to repair the road in the future even if the government blacktops it or lay a base course. That’s why people are requesting the Dzongkhag Administration to intervene and come up with a guideline”.
The NRDCL’s Regional Manager in Bumthang said the corporation is maintaining the road every year but due to limited budget, major improvement cannot be done. NRDCL allocates Nu 14,000 per kilometre of road annually for repairing works.
“We can’t allot more funds than what’s prescribed by our own regulation. However, the budget we release is not enough to mend the road well. We are open to a discussion on the responsibilities and financial commitment each stakeholder has to make to keep the road in proper condition,” said Kinley, the Regional Manager of NRDCL in the Jakar Region.
The meeting decided to let the stakeholders concerned come up with a set of terms and conditions.
Meanwhile, people in Dhur can expect a smooth ride soon as the Member of Parliament from Chhoekhor_Tang, Dawa, told BBS that the road blacktopping works will begin by the end of next month. However, whether the terms and conditions can keep a check on the road maintenance after the road is blacktopped is anyone’s guess.
Kipchu, Bumthang
Edited by Sonam
