June 28: The 14 Kilometer Khebisa-Drujegang farm road in Dagana Dzongkhag benefits more than 200 households. It was completed about six months ago.

Farmers said their lives have changed a lot since the road was constructed. They said the farm road has enabled them to take their farm produce to the market. But regular users said the gate constructed by Khebisa Geog at the border of the two Geogs is causing inconvenience.

Anybody going to Khebisa Geog has to pass through the gate and pay certain amount as user fee. The rate depends on the size of the vehicle. The gup of the Geog Karma Tshering said this was done to generate revenue to maintain the farm road.

Meanwhile, the Dagana Dzongda Tashi Gyeltshen said the Dzongkhag has not been consulted about the construction of the entrance gate. He said the proposal to establish the gate, after passing through the GYT, should reach the Dzongkhag. He said a committee should also be formed for that.

The Khebisa gup admitted that the Dzongkhag was not informed. He, however, said a farm road committee was formed. Based on the decision of the committee he said, the Geog decided to establish the entrance gate.

He said people from the Geog volunteered to work as gatekeepers on rotational basis. The gup said a meeting will be conducted soon with Drujeygang Geog to solve the problem.

The farm road committee has so far generated over Nu. 9,000 in over five months.