Choki Wangmo | Tsirang

Six households of Drubchugang in Tsholingkhar gewog, Tsirang allege that the gewog administration had constructed a farm road without adhering to the initial alignment.

Residents accused the gewog administration of leaving them without a road, which they claim is causing inconvenience to the elderly in the village from availing basic health services.

The survey was carried out in 2019 but the road was constructed from a different location. The partially complete road that is about 3km remains abandoned covered in thick undergrowth.

A resident, Norzin Drukpa, said she lost a mandarin orchard to the construction. The road passes through her land. It remains unused.

“We have requested the gewog administration to do something about the road. Even after three years, there is no concrete decision,” Norzin Drukpa said.

Residents alleged that they were misled into signing the documents by the gewog officials who stated the road would be constructed as planned.

“The gewog administration informed us that they were not aware of such developments in the area as it was a private work,” a resident Sangay Choden alleged.

Jambay Zangmo, 70, and her relatives said that they couldn’t cultivate their land in the past two years as they were told that the road construction would begin any time soon.

“There are four elderly people in these six households. They need frequent medical attention and it is costly for us,” Tashi Lhamo said.

However, Tsholingkhar gup Pasang Theng Tamang said that the gewog administration has plans to construct four farm roads in the gewog but three individuals from the chiwog refused to give clearance. “We cannot proceed without public approval. There will be legal consequences.”

“But we are working on the public consultation. The road should come through in the current fiscal year,” he added.