The longstanding issue of drinking water shortage facing the residents of Dungkar village at Jurme Gewog in Monggar has been resolved finally. With the installation of the Rainwater Harvesting System in September last year, farmers no longer have to wake up at dawn to fetch water. The Water Flagship Programme funded the Nu 5 M rainwater harvesting technology which is currently benefiting 23 households in the village.
In Dungkar village of Moodungkar-Tselam Chiwog in Jurme Gewog, the farmers used to spend more than an hour fetching water in the past for drinking and cooking purposes.
According to the villagers, they have been facing water shortage for years as the settlements are mostly located on a hilltop whereas the water sources are below their village.
Residents recollect memories of waking up at around 3 in the morning to fetch water, before leaving for their farm work.
65-year-old Chojay Dema says she used to collect water using bamboo vessels in the olden days due to a lack of containers. The mother of five says that with improved technology over the years, they have started using plastic containers until recently.
Now, the installation of the rainwater harvesting system to collect and store water for use during the dry season is benefiting them immensely.
Chojay Dema says, ‘‘We are using the water we have judiciously as it is difficult to fetch water as I am old.’’
79-year-old Lungten Gyelmo from Dungkar Choling shares the same. However, she added that it would benefit them more if the relevant authority could construct a water pump to draw water from the sources below the village.
‘‘The project has benefited us as we need not have to fetch water anymore. However, the water is not sufficient for us as the water availability depends on the weather. We get water only if there is rainfall or else the reservoir is of no use. However, if we are provided water from a reliable source, there will be nothing like it. When there is no rainfall we have no water. This year, the rainwater did not even fill my tank,’’ says Lungten Gyelmo.
Pema Wangchuk, a resident of Dungkar says, ‘‘We collect water when there is rainfall. However, the rainwater is not sufficient for us. We still walk for hours to wash our clothes. Without water, we are unable to maintain cleanliness. Let alone washing clothes, it is difficult for us to even get drinking water.’’
The Monggar District Administration inaugurated the rainwater harvesting project last year.
The primary feature of the initiative is the installation of the bio-sand filtration system, enabling residents to drink harvested rainwater after filtration.
‘‘The main objective of the project is to meet water self-sufficiency at Dungkar village. The public faces water scarcity during the peak season for three months and during that time they can store rainwater,’’ says Lobzang Tshering, the Project Engineer of the Rainwater Harvesting System in Monggar.
The project uses technology to collect rainwater from the roof of the farmer’s houses and store the water in the reservoir.
To ensure that stored rainwater is safe for drinking, the officials have been advising the villagers to boil the water before consuming it.
The Monggar District Administration has distributed water tanks that can store five to 10 thousand litres of water for each household depending on the size of the household.
Karma Wangdi, Monggar
Edited by Phub Gyem
