The Bhutanese Leading the way.
The Thimphu District Muncipality’s new project for this year is supplying water in four different areas in Lungtenphu, Semtokha, Babesa and in Changbangdu which are under the local area plans (LAP) .
There are two different packages for the water supply namely the water mains which will extend the water pipeline and the treatment plant.
The construction for the water mains has been completed in 2010 and works on the treatment plant has been started last year in the month of March.
The treatment plant is situated in Menchobhasa (local name) one kilometer away from Chamgang.
Out of all the four local project areas the internal distribution is complete in Lungtenphu and Semtokha area whereas those in Babesa and Changbangdu areas are still under construction.
The main source of the water supply is from Bodichhu (four kilometers away from Chamgang) and the budget for the construction course is Nu 241mn which includes both the water mains and the treatment plant.
The construction is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
As estimated by the Thimphu District Muncipality the population target is for 30,000 people as of now and 60,000 by the year 2027.
The ADB project manager Kinley Penjor said, “our main objectives are to give the public the 24/7 water supply but this also depends upon the source which might get affected by climate change.”
Moreover, it would be a challenge for us to maintain it properly because in case if we don’t get up to the expectations of the people then we ought to get additional sources all over again,“ he said.
Talking to some of the residents Kinga Lhamo, 29 from Changbangdu area said, “Finally we are relieved that the city is doing a good thing with the water supply because in the last few months we went through tough times fetching water from the nearby buildings.”
“The city has taken a good step again with the new water supply because sometimes we have a hard and torturous time when there is no water ,” Tshering Yangden, a resident from Semtokha said.
Sonam Wangmo / Thimphu
