1 TRANSLATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND ... - APFA News

Sarpang Dzongkhag. He extended the appreciation of the Ministry to the people’s
representatives for raising concern for the danger of fertile lands being washed
away by flash floods. The issue has also been raised in March-April 2001, when
the planning officer of the Ministry along with the agriculture, animal husbandry
and forestry officials visited the Dzongkhags to help it prepare the geog-based 9th
plan. He informed that one of the most important policy objectives of the Royal
Government is to ensure food security of the people and achieve national self-
reliance in essential food items. If the objective were to be met, the protection of
arable land from flash floods as submitted by the people’s representatives is the
most important activity.
As the honourable members are aware, the rivers and streams in southern
Dzongkhags overflow during monsoon season. The rivers change course and the
volume increases destroying and washing away embankments. The Minister said
that even if embankments were constructed its benefit would only be for a short
while.
For example, a water pump station was built at Lodrai over a decade ago with the
assistance of the Indian government to drain water from Maokhola and cultivate
all the paddy fields in Gelephu. During the monsoon, the small stream flowing
next to the pump station was overflown with high volume of water. The station
was washed away and covered under mud and debris. The Ministry has initiated
two major agricultural projects in Gelephu many years ago. The first project
which began in 1978 and concluded in 1986 was undertaken at a cost of
Nu.25,1,10,000 which was provided by the Government of India. The second
project launched at Taklai in 1983 and concluded in October, 1990 was funded by
the UNDP/UNCDF. The project which cost USD 4.5 million helped in building
public infrastructure. However, these were made unusable by the Ngolops when
they left the country.
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