The people of Dechhen Pelri in Samtenling Gewog and Dzomlingthang in Gelephu Gewog under Sarpang want their farm roads blacktopped. They say repeated laying of base courses on their farm roads and minor maintenance every year is a waste of government resources. The two farm roads are connected to Gelephu Thromde’s internal road.
The farm road starting from Dzomlingthang irrigation channel of Gelephu Gewog to Dechen Pelri village of Samtenling Gewog was widened and laid with a base course in 2016.
However, heavy monsoon the same year washed away 80 per cent of the base course.
Since then, the road received minor maintenance every year. At the moment, about a kilometre of drainage worth Nu 3.4 M is under construction along the farm road by the Gelephu Gewog office
“There were repeated talks of blacktopping the road but it has been years and we cannot see it getting done. It is difficult to drive on this road, even vehicle maintenance cost is huge. I think it would be better if the road is blacktopped,” said Saran Tamang, a resident of Dechen Pelri village.
“The drain construction is ongoing but they are leaving the road as it is. Now, if it rains, the rainwater will overflow onto the road. They are spending a lot of government resources to maintain the road. The road has been maintained three times,” said Padam Lal Pradhan, a resident of Dzomglingthang.
“I am hoping the drain construction would be helpful during the summer. In the past, as soon as it rains, the rainwater overflows onto the road, damaging it. It is difficult for light vehicles to ply on this road,” said Duk Lal Adhikari, another resident of Dzomlingthang.
During the recent Dzongkhag Tshogdu, the gups of Gelephu and Samtenling Gewogs informed the house that the two gewog offices do not have enough budget to carry out the blacktopping works.
“We were asked to reduce our initial estimate of Nu 80 M. We reduced the thickness of the blacktopping and brought the estimate down to Nu 50 M. This was discussed in the cabinet meeting and the infrastructure and transport minister is aware of it. So far, we did not get any response,” said Tashi, chief district engineer of Sarpang.
The Dzongkhag Tshogdu decided to include the blacktopping works of the two farm roads in the 13th Five-Year Plan.
Karma Wangdi, Gelephu
Edited by Sherub Dorji
