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Electricity goes to Merak and Sakteng

12 March 2010

Works on electrifying Merak and Sakteng gewogs in Trashi­gang have started, and if things go as planned, the two gewogs will receive electricity by the end of this year.

According to Bhutan Pow­er Corporation’s (BPC) Dep­uty Manager in Trashigang, Tshewang Rinzin, apart from the 750 households in the two gewogs, villages enroute to the gewogs like Joenkhar, Thrakthri, and Chebaling will also be electrified.

But electrifying the two ge­wogs would be a challenge. “It takes four days for eight men to reach an electric pole to Sakteng,” said the Deputy Manager, adding that people are complaining that the pole is heavy for eight men. There are 2,000 high and low ten­sion poles, excluding trans­formers, to be transported to the gewogs.

“Though it is challenging we are positive about it. We are hopeful, especially look­ing at the progress and peo­ple’s participation,” said Tsh­ewang Rinzin.

According to Sakteng Gup Phurpa Wangdi, people have been excited about lighting their homes. “People have been proactive ever since the work started. However, they are worried if the money al­located for transportation of equipment would be enough, said the gup.

Out of 15 gewogs in Trash­igang, only Merak and Sak­teng gewogs remain without electricity.

Tshewang Rinzin said they have been much ahead of the schedule in rural electrifica tion. Electrification in Merak and Sakteng is scheduled for 2013.

Most of the villages in the dzongkhag have been electrified before the dead­line. Some 35 households in Pengtsi and Janjanma villag­es under Phongmey Gewog were electrified before their deadline at the end of 2009.

Rural electrification has been accelerated due to a strategy called rural fill-in programme, said Tshewang Rinzin. He said that rural electrification under Electric­ity Services Division and Cus­tomary Service Department has been working together to achieve the government’s mandate of electricity for all by 2013.

Asian Development Bank is funding Nu 63 million for electrification of the two ge­wogs.

By Tempa Wangdi

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