Monggar has inaugurated 15 projects under the first phase of the High Impact Community Development projects, with road improvement as the major focus to improve access to markets and essential services for farming communities.
Of the 15 projects, 13 focused on road improvement. These included farm road blacktopping, laying of granular sub-base (GSB), construction of a bridge, dryland irrigation and drinking water supply.
In Monggar, where many people depend on agriculture and livestock farming, roads are essential for connecting farmers to markets and services. The projects are expected to address infrastructure needs in communities across the district.
For gewogs with limited developmental budgets, the additional funding has helped implement projects that could not be prioritised using their regular grants.
Dechen Zangmo, Narang Gup, said her gewog received Nu 34 M under the High Impact Community Development projects, compared to about Nu 15 M through the gewog grant, which has to be distributed among various developmental activities.
“Under the High Impact Community Development projects, my gewog received Nu 34 M. This amount will be spent on laying GSB on the farm road connecting Chemma and Durungdrang in Trashigang, and the remaining will be used to blacktop the farm road between Drametse and Narang,” she said.
Similarly, a farm road in Masangdaza Chiwog under Saling Gewog has been laid with granular sub-base, benefiting more than 40 households.
Tshering Norbu, Mangmi of Saling Gewog, said the gewog grant could not be used for the work because of other developmental activities in the gewog.
Meanwhile, work on the second phase of the projects is progressing, with physical progress at 48 per cent and financial progress at 31 per cent, according to the latest figures provided by the district.
Paras Adhikari, Economic Development and Marketing Officer, Monggar, said the projects under the first phase were almost complete, while work on the second phase was in full swing.
The Government of India is funding the High Impact Community Development projects, previously known as Small Development Projects.
Monggar has received Nu 600 M for 45 projects across 17 gewogs and the district administration. All the projects are expected to be completed by the end of the 13th Five-Year Plan.
Namgay Wangchuk, Monggar
Edited by Sonam Pem
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