The people of Jagathang village in Paro have come together to build a water tank so they have access to uninterrupted supply of water through the year.

The water catchment management project, implemented by Chithuen Tshopga, a local community-based organization is supported by the GEF-Small Grants Programme through UNDP and the Royal Government of Bhutan.

Materials for construction are procured through the support and the community provides labour. The water tank is built at the source, about 5.5km away from the village. 

The Jagathang water tank construction was one of nine projects approved in February this year, as a part of “SGP-UNDP offer to COVID-19” recovery support to build back better, by aiding the vulnerable groups while enhancing community resilience. 

Paro went under lockdown when it became the epicenter of COVID-19 pandemic in December 2020, with close to 15 positive cases detected. There were communities with unreliable water supply, hindering household works, kitchen gardening and proper hygiene and sanitation practices.

With uninterrupted water supply about 39 households with 163 farmers in Jagathang will benefit through the installment of the infrastructure.

The project, which will be completed early next year, aims to promote adaptive management of watershed to enhance community resilience towards climate change, and support community vitality through shared experience, ownership, and management.