December 5: Residents of Jigmeling village in Sarpang Dzongkhag are facing acute drinking water shortage. Residents say wild elephants have been destroying the drinking water pipes.

At this time of the year the crops in Jigmeling village have been harvested, the fields are empty and dry. Despite this, the village continues to attract wild elephants. Finding nothing in the field, the elephants have damaged the village’s water pipes. The village’s water tank has also not been spared. Some 140 households have landed up with water shortage.

Residents say they fix the pipes during the day only to find it broken the next morning. Safety has also become a concern.

At the center of this problem is a herd of five elephants. Villagers say the elephants refuse to run away when chased. They add that the area identified for industrial development in Jigmeling is presently covered with thick bushes providing an ideal habitat for the elephants.

An Official from the Department of Industry said that there were cases of elephants destroying hutments even before the area was identified as an industrial estate.

He said the department is currently focusing on developing Jigmeling and are processing for land acquisition.

The District Agriculture Officer Tashi Wangdi said the Dzongkhag administration in collaboration with the agriculture sector and forestry officials have been implementing a series of measures to combat the problem.