Farmers of Tsangchhutham village in Phuentshogthang Gewog of Samdrup Jongkhar have been living in fear of losing their crops and properties to a potential flood. Every monsoon, the Nyera Ama Chhu swells and erodes their lands. More than a hundred households residing along the Nyera Ama Chhu are requesting concerned agencies to construct flood protection walls to mitigate the risks.
Bishnu Bahadur Tamang, a farmer who lost around 50 decimals of land to flooding in recent years, is one of the residents facing the threat of flood. The river flows nearby his house. Bishnu Bahadur Tamang says every monsoon, the Nyera ama chhu swells causing threat to lives and properties.
“This is my land and the river keeps flowing nearby. Every year, the river would wash away some portion of the land. In 2004, we experienced flooding but it did not cause much damage. There was another flood incident in 2022, and now the river is approaching near the settlement. So, we have to run to safer places, we don’t know what to do. We will be grateful if the government could construct flood protection wall.”
Other villagers are also requesting the construction of a flood protection wall to safeguard their lives and properties.
“It is very risky when it rains as the water level increases. The river is approaching near our houses and there are chances of flooding. We have to live in fear. We need a flood protection wall here,” said Chandra Bahadur Gurung, a resident.
“The river has reached near my house. It is only about 15 meters away. We have to run to a safer place when it rains. I am not only the affected one, there are many. We are told that flood protection wall will be constructed but there is no budget. But we are still hopeful that the government will construct flood protection wall. I can hear the sound of river flowing during the night giving me sleepless nights,” said Yadu Maya Sarki, another resident.
“River has changed its course towards our houses. I am scared of our settlement getting washed away by floods,” said Tshewang Dema, who is also a resident.
Meanwhile, Phuentshogthang Gup Jamyang Gyeltshen says the Gewog Administration does not have a budget to construct a flood protection wall immediately. However, the Gup added that the Phuentshogthang Gewog Administration has proposed the construction of flood protection along the Nyera Ama Chhu in the 13th Five-Year-Plan.
Unless a flood protection wall is constructed along Nyera Ama Chhu, the residents of Tsangchhutham will have to continue to spend sleepless nights in fear of losing their lives and properties to floods.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Phub Gyem
