Phurpa Lhamo | Punakha

Residents of 258 households in Guma gewog, Punakha, who suffered from acute water shortage, will be connected with drinking water soon.

As part of the DeSuung National Service initiate, 76 DeSuups comprising of 13 engineers, has already started its pilot drinking water project in the gewog.

People in Dochu-Ritsa, Changyul-Thara and Phulingsum chiwogs mostly fetch water from Mochhu River today, as their existing water sources small and are contaminated with increasing settlements at the sources.

Coinciding the birth anniversary of His Majesty The Fourth Druk Gyalpo, Tsugla Lopen of the Central Monastic Body presided over the ground breaking ceremony on November 11.

According to DeSuug director general, Tashi Tobgye, the pilot project in Punakha would be completed in five months but the volunteers would try to complete the project in three months.

“During His Majesty’s address on September 12, we saw His Majesty’s concern on water in Bhutan and we were inspired to volunteer our service for the project,” Tashi Tobgye said at the groundbreaking ceremony.

He also said that the 43rd DeSuung batch would be trained on water resource management. “We have already trained the 42nd batch.”

The DeSuung National Service will also initiate a similar project in Jareygang village, Semjong gewog in Tsirang on November 25 this year to resolve drinking water and irrigation water issues of the people.

Meanwhile, for people in Guma gewog, the Nyakhulum stream flowing from Jabab Menchu area has been identified as the source of drinking water. As part of the project, an intake structure, two transmission lines and two reservoirs will be built.

Guma gup Ugyen Khandu pointed out that increasing structures and people in the gewog has led to the shortage of drinking water.

He said that if not for the DeSuung National Service, bringing water to the gewog would take time and require huge budget. “Tendering, providing contract work and bringing workforce would be really difficult. With the DeSuung National Service, it has eased our burden.”