The residents of Woongborang chiwog in Dungmaed Gewog and Kerong chiwog in Chhoekhorling Gewog of Pema Gatshel are requesting for a direct farm road connection between the two chiwogs. Currently, they are connected by the gewog farm road which takes at least five hours by car. The residents of the two chiwogs have been longing for a direct farm road for quite some time now.
People of Woongborang chiwog in Dungmaed Gewog and Kerong chiwog in Chhoekhorling Gewog share a deep social connection since their ancestors’ time. The ancient route which connects the two chiwogs served as a trade route for the residents. Now, they use the ancient route and walk for up to three hours during emergency situations and when the gewog farm road gets blocked.
“In the past, when we didn’t have a road to our village, we used to carry vegetables to Nganglam via Kerong and Drezama as the distance is shorter when using the ancient route,” said Chorten Tshering, a resident of Woongborang in Dungmead Gewog.
“If we travel via the highway, it takes almost a day to reach Woongborang. They grow chilli, potato, and other vegetables at Woongborang. They can carry only small quantity on their backs or have to pay huge charges if they hire a vehicle. Construction of a direct farm road will reduce the travel time to less than an hour,” said Meto Seldon a resident of Kerong in Chhokhorling Gewog.
Dungmaed Gewog Administration has been trying to include the construction of the farm road in the current plan but it couldn’t materialise due to budget constraints.
“Now, we are discussing with the Chhokhorling Gewog Administration and hopefully we can include it in 13th Five Year Plan,” said Tashi Dorji, Dungmaed Mangmi.
“I am also discussing with Dungmead Gup with the hope that it will benefit people of both the gewogs. So, we are planning to include it in 13th Five Year Plan,” added Chhokhorling Gup Kinzang Rabten.
While it is not definite when they will have the direct farm road, residents are already dreaming of reaping the benefits. “We have bamboo, fern, and other vegetables which grow in the wild on the way to Woongborang. Today, we cannot harvest due to risks of encountering elephants. If we are connected with motorable road, we can harvest and take those non wood products to the town,” said Dorji Gyalpo, resident of Kerong chiwog of Chhokhorling Gewog.
“With the construction of the road, government can collect wood and timber. That way, it can help residents earn income as people can start logging activity if there is road connectivity,” added Kerong Tshogpa Karma Wangchuk of Chhokhorling Gewog.
The two chiwogs are suitable for growing vegetables. Currently, they depend on agriculture and livestock farming. A direct farm road connectivity will benefit more than a hundred households in the two gewogs.
Thinley Dorji, Pema Gatshel
Edited by Phub Gyem
