…residents are more hopeful this time

Nim Dorji | Trongsa

People of Mangdephu village, Nubi gewog in Trongsa have been waiting for electricity for the last four years.

Three different surveys were conducted in the past and discussions were held with people of Jongthang village to erect poles in their land. “Despite getting all the approvals, electricity never came,” Jamyang Lhendup, a villager said. “The villagers were given solar panels but as it aged, it seldom functioned,” he said.

Without electricity, he said, there is a stark difference in lifestyle of people in Mangdephu and other villages.

The people use solar batteries to charge their electronic devices like mobile phones.

Villagers patiently waited for electricity and years passed by.

The villagers had heard about electrification many a times, but never received power.

The wait seems to be over finally. Villagers are more hopeful this time because they said that this time officials from Bhutan Power Corporation (BPC) and the agriculture minister visited their village and assured them.

Officials from the BPC said that most of the equipment for the electrification of Mangdephu have been procured and some yet to be received.

It was learnt that the electrification of Mangdephu was approved last June which delayed the procurement works.

Lhendup, another villager said that they are happy to hear the news. “We can now use the electronic devices in our kitchen and also light our homes,” he added.

The village has four households and is one the farthest village in Nubi gewog.

It is among the four other villages in Trongsa, without electricity connection. Phumzur, Rewtal and Ngada are other three villages in Langthel gewog waiting for grid electricity connection.