November 20: Nichula geog in Dagana is probably one of the most inaccessible geogs in the country. Without a proper bridge over the Sunkosh River, the geog remains cut off from the rest of the dzongkhag especially during the summer. However, the problem may soon be solved with the construction of a suspension bridge and a motorable bridge in the current plan.

The Sunkosh River isolates Nichula geog from the rest of the dzongkhag. For the people to get in and out of the geog, they have to use boats and locally made rafts.

Geog officials told our reporter that it is risky to use the boats and rafts. They said it gets worse during the summer when the river swells ominously. It is virtually impossible to ferry people during the summers. So the people of the geog stock up their ration like cooking oil, rice and salt for summer.

Even the sick have to be ferried using boats and rafts. During the summer when the water volume increases, patients have to be carried till the Zamdar ferrying point, which is about three hours walk from the geog centre. From there, they are ferried by boat to Lhamoizingkha where the BHU is located.

The Mangmi, Gurja Man Karki said often people have to return home with the patient because the river cannot be crossed even by using a boat.

There are two ferrymen who operate the boats. Without their service, Nichula geog would have remained totally cut off from the rest of the dzongkhag. But their job is a dangerous one. So every morning before they begin the day’s work, they pray fervently for the safety of their passengers as well as themselves.

They charge their passengers Nu. 10 for a one way trip. But some passengers cannot even afford that and often the two have to go home empty handed. They said they are lucky if officials visit the geog as they pay them well.

But these problems will soon be over with the construction of a suspension bridge over the Sunkosh River, which will connect the geog with rest of the dzongkhag.

The geog was supposed to get a suspension bridge two decades ago but because of the problem in the 1990s, construction work had to be suspended. It was hampered once again due to the presence of armed militants from across the border in 2003.

About 20 percent of the construction works were completed back in the 90s. Construction material can still be seen lying at the site. Some have rusted while others have got spoiled.

The geog will also get a motorable bridge across the River once the 1045 MW Sunkosh hydropower project begins in Karmaling under Deorali geog.

The people’s representative to the National Assembly from Lhamoizingkha Tashiding constituency Hemant Gurung said the project will begin sometime in the second or third year of the current plan.

He described the bridge as a dream bridge for the people of the geog as most of the dreams of the people will realized once the motorable bridge is constructed and functional.