Neten Dorji | Trashigang

The Trashigang’s dzongkhag administration is preparing to write to Gross National Happiness Commission and relevant agencies for additional budgets for the construction of a bailey bridge in Khaling.

This was decided during the dzongkhag tshogdu (DT) meeting yesterday.

Khaling’s mangmi, Sonam Rabgay, submitted that there was a need for an additional budget to complete the bridge in Jerelayme Chiwog.

He also said that the construction of the bridge was proposed long back in the 1990s.

Sonam Rabgay said that the foundation of the bridge was completed. “However, with the lack of budgets in the gewog, it is impossible to complete the bridge.”

The bridge, he said, would benefit more than 150 households and a primary school.

He also said that the gewog spent about Nu 4.8 million to construct the wing wall and abutments for the bailey bridge.

Gup Sonam Dorji said that the gewog needs about Nu 13 million to complete the bailey bridge. “If we spend all the budget on the bridge construction, it will hamper other development activities. We need only bridge part to open to traffic,” he added.

He said that every summer the stream swells and disconnects the chiwog from rest of the gewog. “It is difficult for people to cross during monsoon. A bridge is crucial for the people.”

Trashigang’s dzongrab gom, Wangchuk Dorji, suggested that the dzongkhag would write to Gross National Happiness Commission.

Thrimshing gup also submitted that a new bridge be constructed in place of the one that was recently washed away.

“After [the bridge] was washed away by the floods on July 17, the chiwog is in dire need of a bridge,” he said.