The voters in Chhoekhor-Tang constituency in Bumthang are waiting for their Member of Parliament (MP) Dawa to deliver the much-hyped farm road blacktopping. The MP had promised this during the bye-election in November last year. The pledge was one of the major commitments of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa that potentially helped secure the seat for their candidate in the constituency.
Dawa, the new Chhoekhor-Tang MP was elected more than seven months ago. The Prime Minister, as the president of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa, was also actively involved in the election campaign. They said blacktopping about 40 kilometres of farm roads in Tang, Chhoekhor-Toed and Dhur would begin immediately after the election. But, the work is yet to begin.
“A blacktopped road has been our long-term aspiration and our MP has accordingly pledged to deliver it. We are hopeful he would fulfil what he promised,” said Tashi, a resident in Nangsiphel under Chhoekhor Gewog.
“Our MP said the blacktopping works would start a few months after the election. The Prime Minister was also there. As of now, we have no idea what is being done to deliver the pledge. It’s understandable that the successive lockdowns would have hampered the works but now most parts of the country are opened and we want to know how works are progressing,” added Dhendup Thinley, a resident in Dhur.
“I don’t know about the road condition in Chhoekhor Toed and Tang but our farm road in Dhur becomes muddy and unusable during summer. It gets dusty and the road has potholes during winter. The blacktopping work should begin at the earliest,” added Kezang Phuntsho, another resident in Dhur.
“We don’t know if they would blacktop the roads but we are very positive. It would benefit us if it is done before the potato harvesting season as it would help us transport our potatoes easily,” said Nidup Pem, a resident in Nimlung.
“The Works and Human Settlement minister came to study the road condition a few months ago and we were told that works would start soon,” said Sangay Dorji, another resident in Nimlung.
MP Dawa said there is no room for excuses to leave the pledges unfulfilled.
“We can’t start the works immediately as the monsoon has already started and that would affect the blacktop quality. However, this is a pledge that has to be fulfilled and we will surely deliver it. I can’t say exactly when the roads would be blacktopped but I am sure we will have to do it within this year,” said Dawa, National Assembly’s MP from Chhoekhar-Tang constituency, Bumthang.
But people are doubtful whether or not a farm road is eligible for blacktopping.
“Let alone Gewog centre roads, we now have roads in almost all the chiwogs. So, the focus has to now shift towards blacktopping and laying GSB in the upcoming Five Year Plans. The bylaw, which restricts blacktopping of farm roads, is an old version of the road guidelines. Now, blacktopping is allowed and we have already blacktopped three farm roads in Tsirang,” said Dorji Tshering, the Works and Human Settlement Minister.
MP Dawa said the blacktopping budget has already been approved and the works will begin immediately after the monsoon.
Kipchu, Bumthang
