Truckers ferrying potatoes from Wangdue Phodrang are forced to spend the night at Darachhu to avoid the one week quarantine in Gelegphu. This is because they have to pay for the quarantine. Darachhu in Tsirang is 75 kilometres from Gelegphu.
“When we start our journey from up, we halt our night at Darachhu. We come here in the morning and again return to Darachhu for night halt, which is quite far. Therefore, it would be convenient for us if they allow us to spend the night in Sarpang. Darachhu is quite far and we cannot make it back there on time. If we can’t make it back then we have to undergo mandatory one-week quarantine on our own expense,” said Passang Dorji, a trucker.
Every day ten truckloads of potatoes reach early in Gelegphu after spending the night at Darachhu. Only about three trucks are allowed at once at the mini-dry port near the border gate. The increasing number of trucks carrying potatoes coming in Gelegphu is attributed to the recent problem of export restrictions from Phuentshogling which was solved last week.
“It convenient in Phuentshogling but in Gelegphu it quite difficult to come from Darachhu, unload and go back all in one day. Our problem is these days we cannot predict the climatic condition. When it showers heavily we can’t unload our goods. If we cannot return on the same day, I heard that we have to undergo one-week mandatory quarantine for Gelegphu,” said Karma Tenzin, also a trucker.
However, the Dzongkhag COVID-19 Taskforce said the issue will be resolved soon after they complete constructing a containment centre for additional labourers at the Mini-dry port. They just have 20 labourers at the moment.
Karma Wangdi
