Phurpa Lhamo | Gasa

The Mochhu river diversion work in Gasa tshachhu area completed on June 25.

This, according to officials, will ensure safety for visitors, structures and tshachhu ponds.

With the completion, 30 percent of Mochhu was diverted through a new course and 70 percent of it flows along tshachhu and guesthouse area.

According to the project engineer, Choki, the remaining water would be diverted in the coming four days depending on the stability of the new course.

He said that at least 30 percent of the total river would still flow through the old course along the tshachhu area, as it was difficult to divert it due to monsoon.

The river diversion work began in mid-December last year.

Choki said that when there was heavy rainfall in the locality because of cyclone in the region, the gabion wall protected the tshachhu area. “If the gabion wall is damaged, then the tshachhu area could be damaged. The pond location is lower than the river level. During monsoon, the river level reaches the bridge over the pond at tshachhu area.”

The 2009 flood also washed away shops, police outposts, a neykhang, guesthouse and ponds at the tshachhu area.

The new river course is between 10 to 20 feet deep and a maximum of 30 meters in width. The 800 meters long diversion course work was executed with a budget of Nu 26 million through the small development project.

Although the project was aimed to complete by end of April, due to boulders and damage to the machine, the work took additional two months.

“The boulders needed drilling and blasting but in this situation it was difficult to find people for the work,” Choki said.

More than 6,000 people visit Gasa tshachhu every year and earn revenue of Nu 1.9M to Nu 2M per year excluding the expenditure.

Edited by Tashi Dema