Motor roads have always been a sign of development and in most of the cases, a prelude to development. Yet, more often than not, people have been complaining about the compromised quality in many cases. It’s no different with the happy but concerned locals of Tashigang and Darga villages in Chhukha.
After decades of travelling on foot, locals are overjoyed with works that finally began on a farm road to connect the two villages. But residents are concerned with the stretch of road connecting to their farm road which they say is in a very poor condition.
Works were recently started on a 13-kilometer farm road which will connect the remote villages of Tashigang and Darga under Getana Gewog in Chhukha.
People are excited that once it is complete, they will not have to face the arduous journey on foot to reach their villages.
“Until now we used ponies for transportation. It is challenging especially during the monsoon. An hour’s distance takes one to two days. We are now hopeful that this farm road will be the solution. We see a better life ahead,” said Penjor, the tshogpa of Tashigang, Chhukha.
But although the farm road will benefit over forty households, some of them are concerned they will not be able to reap the benefits as the gewog center road which will connect to the new farm road is in an unpassable condition.
“People here are not happy with the poor condition of the gewog center road. They are worried about it. People are hoping to be able to transport their produce to markets in Phuentshogling and Thimphu. But the gewog centre road has always been a challenge,” said Dorji, the tshogpa of Chiyuel chiwog, Chhukha.
Because of the poor road condition, the ambulance for Getana and Bongo is kept at Bongo Gewog. The Health official in the Getana Gewog says that it’s really a challenge when emergency cases come up.
“It takes 7 hours to reach Getana from Gedu. It is challenging when there are emergency cases here. It costs around Nu 10,000 to hire a vehicle,” Tashi, the Health Assistant for Getana Basic Health Unit, said.
Locals say the gewog centre road is neither blacktopped nor maintained and needs proper alignment and drainage works. The issue was also one of the topics of discussion at the recent dzongkhag tshogdu.
“People in the two chiwogs are happy with the farm road inauguration. If the gewog center road is not good, there is no reason people should be happy about the farm road. So, if we align the road, it will reduce the distance by 10 km – 15 km and escape four major landslide areas. We have come up with this proposal after a profound discussion with the people there,” said Kinley, the gup of Getana gewog.
The dzongkhag recently took over the gewog center road from the department of roads and is planning on its maintenance. The gewog has also received the budget for the black topping of the GC road.
