Nim Dorji | Trongsa

Of the three Monpa villages in Trongsa, Phumzur is the only village that is not connected with a motorable road and electricity.

Located near the famous ‘Ugyen Dra’, which was blessed by Guru Rinpoche in the eighth century, Phumzur has many visitors coming for pilgrimage. It’s also en route the eco-tourism trail to Nabji-Korphu.

However, the residents of the 15 households have to walk more than an hour to charge their mobile phones. Villagers go to Jangbi village to charge their mobile phones. People use solar panels to light their homes.

The nearest road head is more than three hours journey from the village and residents say evacuating patients is difficult, as they have to carry patients through steep slopes infested with leech and snakes in summer.

A villager, Dorji, said without farm road, they couldn’t sell agriculture products and earn income.

Villagers claimed that all political parties and candidates pledged to connect their villages with farm road and electricity during the election. “Three different political parties came into power with three different Member of Parliament but our condition has not improved,” a villager said.

Jangbi tshogpa Lhajay said that the need to connect Phumzur with a farm road was discussed in gewog tshogde but nothing concrete came out of the discussion.

It was learnt that a survey was conducted in 2016 for electrification.

A villager, Sonam Choden, they use firewood for cooking purposes and use pine resin to light homes. “Our wish is to see the village electrified.”

Langthel gup, Sonam Dhendup, said that construction of farm road to Phumzur is included in 2019-20 financial year of 12th Plan and work will begin soon.

“We discussed with Bhutan Power Corporation and learnt that they could not electrify the village due to financial constraint. “BPC assured to connect electricity to the village once they avail the fund.”

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