The solar-powered lift irrigation system at Tshangchutham Community was successfully completed and formally handed over to the community in the presence of Dasho Drungpa, Gewog Thrizin and Dzongkhag and Gewog officials.
The event was graced by Dasho Dungpa Samdrupchholing as the Chief Guest and attended by officials from the Dungkhag, Gewog administrations, Dzongkhag official, as well as 37 households and community representatives from neighboring villages.
During the programme, the importance of climate-resilient initiatives, particularly solar-powered lift irrigation systems, was highlighted by the Chief Guest and the Project Chairperson. The project was presented as an important intervention to strengthen the community’s resilience to climate-related challenges and improve access to reliable irrigation water for agricultural production.
The Project Chairperson provided a detailed overview of the major facilities handed over to the community, including:
22.4 kW solar PV panels
15 kW DC water pump
448 m of PN 8, 160 mm OD water transmission pipeline
Control room
River sump
Collection tank fitted with gate valves
The functions and operation of each facility were also explained to the community to ensure proper understanding and management of the system.
To ensure the sustainable and smooth operation of the irrigation system following the handover, a set of by-laws was prepared and presented to the community. The by-laws were discussed and subsequently endorsed through community consensus after lunch, in the presence of the Dzongkhag Agriculture Officer and the Phuntshothang Gewog Administration.
The formal handing-over and taking-over was completed through the signing of the relevant documents between the community and the Project Chairperson, with the Dzongkhag Agriculture Office serving as the technical partner, in the presence of the Gewog Administration and Gup.
With the completion and formal handover, the irrigation system is now under the ownership and management of the community through the Tshangchutham Water User Group under Phuntshothang Gewog. The project marks an important step toward strengthening climate-resilient agriculture and supporting sustainable water management for the Tshangchutham community.
