Although an 8.5kms farm road connects Gengu village in Darla, Chukha, from the nearest blacktopped road at Chumilhakha, the road is not pliable in monsoon.

Gengu residents, who own vehicles, say they prefer parking their vehicles in Chumilhakha and walk to the village.

It takes more than an hour’s walk downhill from Chumilakha to reach Gengu. Without vehicles, people carry everything to Gengu. People charge Nu 300 to carry a 25kg rice bag from Chumilakha to Gengu.

A farmer, Ganesh Bhujhel, who owns a bolero, said it is risky to drive on the rough and bumpy road.

A driver, Dhan Bahadur Gurung, said he had to keep his bolero parked for seven months, as the road was blocked. “Small cars cannot drive through.”

He said he hopes the farm road would be maintained soon.

Chumilakha tshogpa Kesarnath Khadka said the road gets blocked in summer. “The maintenance and repair works done in winter don’t last in summer because the place is prone to landslides.”

He said vehicles with four-wheel can only ply through.

The tshogpa said that Darla gewog and dzongkhag administration has been supportive. “A budget of Nu 1.2 million (M) has been kept for major maintenance in the 12th Plan.”

Kesarnath Khadka also said that another five km would be constructed, as the road has not reached all the places in Gengu. “A budget of Nu 5M has been proposed in the 12th Plan.”

Gengu farm road is one of the 56 farms roads constructed in the 11th Plan in Chukha. There are about 284.7kms farm roads in Chukha.

Rajesh Rai | Darla