Kelzang Wangchuk | Samdrupjongkhar

Besides frequent roadblocks and bad road conditions, cattle loitering on the Samdrupjongkhar-Trashigang highway are creating problems for travellers.

The Phongshing stretch of the highway between Kharungla and Khaling has become cowshed as people are straying or tethering their cattle along the roadside.

A driver, Tashi Jamtsho, said that negotiating the road was difficult. “There is a real danger of accidents. The cow dung was affecting the road,” he added.

Another driver, Kelzang Rigzin, said that the highway was becoming risky and messy.

“Who should we hold accountable?” said Yeshey, a driver.

Khaling Gup, Tashi Dorji, said since the gewog faced the same problem, advocacy programmes were conducted but the problem persists.

He said the cattle belong to the nomads from Merak, Sakteng and people of Khaling and Thrimshing gewogs.

“I am planning to propose in the dzongkhag tshogdu to draft the rules and regulations to impose fines if people continue to keep their cattle along the roadside,” Tashi Dorji said.