Residents of Samdrup Jongkhar Toed in Samdrup Jongkhar rejoiced when a sewerage treatment plant was constructed in their constituency back in 2017. They thought it will be an end to their sewage management problems. But five years later, they are still facing the same old problem.
Covered in bushes today, the sewerage treatment plant is far from what it should look like. About Nu 2 M was spent to construct the plant.
According to Samdrup Jongkhar thromde, though the sewerage treatment plant was completed in 2017, the structural design for the sewerage distribution network channel was completed only in 2019 as the thromde has to depend on international experts.
Moreover, Samdrup Jongkhar Thrompon Thinley Namgay said the project stalled due to the limited budget. “We have to seek financial support from the Asian Development Bank. To get the fund, there are many rules and procedures, all the work like tendering and procuring is done by the Ministry of Works and Human Settlement and it took time in designing the work.”
And without a sewerage distribution network channel connected to buildings, some building owners are struggling to manage their sewage. They have to pay Nu 1,000 to the thromde as a hire charge for a sewage suction truck to empty their septic tanks whenever it gets full.
“The septic tank use to get full and we ask cesspool truck from thromde and they empty it, they say it will be connected with sewerage treatment plant but currently they are constructing drainage and all. The thromde said it will be connected soon but it is still not connected,” said Sangay Lhamo, a house owner in Samdrup Jongkhar.
“In 2017, the sewerage treatment plant was completed and it is still not connected with the distribution network. While the thromde is providing us with cesspool truck services, it would be easier if it is connected with the network channel. Even if we construct buildings we don’t have to spend separately for a septic tank,” added Ugyen Dorji, also a house owner in the thromde.
However, this struggle will soon be over since the works for both the distribution network channel for sewerage and water are underway.
“In 2020, the work was awarded and it will be complete by 2023, right now we are coordinating with the contractor to complete the work on time. And with the COVID-19 restriction lifted, the contractors are also trying their best to complete the work.”
Once the sewerage network channel is connected to the treatment plant, about 250 buildings will not have to hire sewage suction trucks.
The Asian Development Bank is funding both the distribution network channel for water and sewerage which will cost Nu 137 M.
Kinley Wangchuk, Samdrup Jongkhar
Edited by Sonam
