Villagers of Pang in Nubi gewog, Trongsa, had to delay paddy cultivation as road construction damaged irrigation canal.

Since last year, paddy cultivation on around 10-acre wetland of six households was delayed by more than two weeks.

This year, the farmers are three weeks behind cultivation schedule.

Wangchuk, a farmer, said that last year they cultivated paddy two weeks behind. “We made a temporary drain about 700 metres along the road for cultivation. We thought that this year the problem will be solved but it has remained the same.”

Chimmi Dorji said that once the road is completed which will connect to the bridge over Mangdechhu it will benefit the people, as the people residing on the other side can reach the gewog easily. “But at the moment, farmers are seriously affected.”

The villagers said that they had informed the relevant authority about the issue.

It has been more than a month without machine and workers at the road construction site.

A team from the dzongkhag administration and gewog official visited the site recently.

The gewog has provided pipe for the drinking water connection as a temporary measure to support cultivation.

Zongchu, a farmer, said that as the land was located higher compared to other areas it delayed cultivation and hampered production.

Villagers say that the problem will be solved only after drain construction is complete.

The people in the village take turns to supply water for cultivation.

Nubi Gup Ugyen Tenzin said that the pipe would be kept there until drinking water supply work begins.

Nim Dorji | Trongsa

Edited by Jigme Wangchuk

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