People in Tralang village of Tang Gewog in Bumthang are not happy with the quality of a recently constructed suspension bridge. They are accusing the gewog office and the bridge technician of lack of supervision of the project which led to the supposed substandard work quality.
The bridge over Tang River is for the people of Tralang, Naruth, Sarmaed and a few other villages. It is especially important for the people of Tralang as most of their fields are located on the other side of the river. About Nu 3 M was spent on the project.
When BBS visited the site in June, there were huge cracks on the walls, steps were almost falling apart and the alignment of the walls did not look right. But the cracks were repaired later.
“The engineers said the cracks won’t have any significant t impact on the bridge, so we did not do anything. However, recently, we excavated the area and piled stones and soil on either side of the walls to support them. The tension on the bridge is on the main cables. We dug holes and cemented the cables on a strong base. So I am confident about the durability of the bridge,” said Ugyen Nima, the Tang Gup in Bumthang.
Though the Gewog Administration assured the people that it would last another two to three decades, people have reservations about the strength of the bridge and how durable it would be.
A resident of Tralang, Rinchen said: “Last time when we went to see the bridge, the workers there have plastered all the cracks. Then I told them that the work quality on the bridge is unacceptable. I don’t think it is going to benefit us. It’s wastage of government resources”.
Another resident Ngawang Sherab said “Let alone cattle, even people will have difficulties using the bridge. Moreover, if the river swells, there are chances of the bridge getting washed away. As per the map, the bridge has to be passable even for cattle and we even proposed this to the gewog office but right now I am doubtful”.
“In winter, we use a temporary wooden bridge over the river but now it got washed away, so our cattle can’t cross the river. We thought the new bridge would benefit us but the cracks on the walls and the steps are not a good sign,” said Sonam Choki, a Tralang resident.
The people of Tralang and Tang Gewog office requested Kuenzang, the bridge technician who works at the Bumthang’s municipal office, to supervise the project. As a result, no tender was floated and the construction was done as ‘departmental work’ by the Dzongkhag Administration. Kuenzang said the bridge was constructed as per the map the Works and Human Settlement Ministry designed.
“If the walls are not this tall, the cables will sag and when the river swells, the debris it carries will hit the cables and topple the bridge. If no natural calamities hit the bridge, it will last for several generations. I can take the risk and guarantee the people that the bridge won’t collapse and the walls won’t fall apart,” said Kuenzang, the Bridge Technician with the Bumthang Municipality.
He also said the cracks on the walls developed because of the nature of the construction site.
“Firstly, the area is marshy and unstable and we had to build very tall walls which led to the formation of the cracks. Secondly, the earthquake that struck a couple of months ago also affected the walls. However, the bridge is still very stable,” he added.
The bridge is yet to be handed over to the Dzongkhag Tender Committee. Only time will tell whether it will serve the purpose or not.
Kipchu, Bumthang
Edited by Tandin Phuntsho
