The project will benefit 156 households

Lhakpa Quendren

Sarpang—Farmers of remote Lhayul village in Chhudzom gewog, Sarpang, will no longer face water scarcity after the DeSuung National Service Water Project (NSWP).  

The water project brings hope for vegetable farmers who are grappling with the challenge of sustaining their farming due to water shortages, including the 12 members of the organic vegetable production groups in Lhayul. 

Upper Lhayul Vegetable Production Group’s chairperson, Bhim Prasad, said that the water project will address their longstanding issue associated with farming. “We have already had the gewog center road blacktopped, and the water project will make our farming much easier.”  

The DeSuung water project was launched on January 18

“As we prepare for the larger project in Gelephu, there is hope for farmers,” he said. “With a secure water supply, there will be more farming, and this will help ensure food self-sufficiency.”

Lhayul Tshogpa Narenda Ghimery said that Lhayul is the largest chiwog with the highest population in the gewog, and the water project will bring economic benefits to the community. 

“Farmers have been faced with water shortages for drinking, let alone for paddy cultivation and other farming activities,” he said. “We proposed the project a year ago, and it is now being implemented after approval.”

The recently launched water project is scheduled to be completed within six months. Upon completion, this project will benefit 156 households across eight villages, including Lhayul Primary School and the Basic Health Unit (BHU).

Chhudzom Gewog Administrative Officer Yenten Jamtsho stated that the population of 1,337 in Lhayul will have access to adequate drinking water once the project is complete.

“The water flagship programme was deemed necessary because there are no reliable water sources for the villages. Most of the water sources have dried up, and the residents who depend on sources that disappear after the monsoon face challenges,” he said.

“Although Lhayul has benefited from the rural water supply scheme, the water sources are found to be not sustainable, especially during winter,” he said, adding that some residents have been drinking water from private sources.

The project is budgeted at Nu 7.89 million and is being implemented by 70 Desuups. This marks the fourth water project executed in Sarpang Dzongkhag.

The water project, which channels from Sotey, spans over 31 kilometers including 9.2km long distribution channels for both Lhayul A and B.