This year the team reduced the water level by 1.45 meters taking the total to 3.68 meters. It is now left with 1.32 meters to meet the overall target.
This year, a little more than half the number of required workers, hired to reduce the water level of Bhutan’s most dangerous glacier lake, Lake Thorthormi, met the 1.4 meters set target.
The 209 workers including 40 women were able to bring down the water level by 1.45 meters.
The team leader, Karma Toeb, said it was all due to good weather. “We had no difficulties of any kind and we didn’t lose any single day of excavation due to bad weather,” he said, adding that the weather was on their side this year.
Compared to last year, a little more than half the number of workers required were on the site. The number of people who turned up at Thanza was only 131, but managed to recruit local residents as time passed by. The required number of workers was 360. “We did a good work this year compared to last year. Last year, there were many workers but this year despite less workers and shorter period of excavation we managed everything well,” he said.
“We will need at least one more year of working season to complete the project,” says Karma Toeb.
The project was to be completed within four years of working season which ends this year and reduce the water level by 5 meters. But in 2008 when the project started no excavation work was done due to various technical reasons. Instead of four working seasons the project had to do with only three working seasons.
The project manager, Dowchu Drukpa, said one more year of working season will be extended. “Even with less number of workers, we managed to meet the target this year. With another working season and good weather we might be able to complete the project,” he said.
Not only the excavation work turned out well this year but one of the workers also ducked the unfortunate incident that occurred last year. After the three unfortunate deaths last year, the project initiated various programs of which one was to set up transit medical camps at two different locations.
One transit medical camp was set up at 3,900 meters before the highest pass toward Lunana and the other after the highest pass at around 4,100 meters. And this helped save a life. While the team was about to reach the highest pass, one of the workers developed serious altitude sickness. He could not move any further. “He could not even descend back so a medical team was mobilized from the first transit medical camp to come and get him,” said karma Toeb.
The medical team arrived at the right moment and he was taken back. “The medical camps helped a lot. It saved one human life,” said the project manager, Dowchu Drukpa.
In 2009, the workers reduced the water level by 86 centimeter while last year they achieved 1.37 meters. This year the team achieved 1.45 meters taking the total to 3.68 meters. It is now left with 1.32 meters to meet the overall target.
 |
Around 40 women were also hired to reduce the water level at the Thorthormi lake. Pic: Karma Toeb |
This year, a little more than half the number of required workers, hired to reduce the water level of Bhutan’s most dangerous glacier lake, Lake Thorthormi, met the 1.4 meters set target.
The 209 workers including 40 women were able to bring down the water level by 1.45 meters.
The team leader, Karma Toeb, said it was all due to good weather. “We had no difficulties of any kind and we didn’t lose any single day of excavation due to bad weather,” he said, adding that the weather was on their side this year.
Compared to last year, a little more than half the number of workers required were on the site. The number of people who turned up at Thanza was only 131, but managed to recruit local residents as time passed by. The required number of workers was 360. “We did a good work this year compared to last year. Last year, there were many workers but this year despite less workers and shorter period of excavation we managed everything well,” he said.
“We will need at least one more year of working season to complete the project,” says Karma Toeb.
The project was to be completed within four years of working season which ends this year and reduce the water level by 5 meters. But in 2008 when the project started no excavation work was done due to various technical reasons. Instead of four working seasons the project had to do with only three working seasons.
The project manager, Dowchu Drukpa, said one more year of working season will be extended. “Even with less number of workers, we managed to meet the target this year. With another working season and good weather we might be able to complete the project,” he said.
Not only the excavation work turned out well this year but one of the workers also ducked the unfortunate incident that occurred last year. After the three unfortunate deaths last year, the project initiated various programs of which one was to set up transit medical camps at two different locations.
One transit medical camp was set up at 3,900 meters before the highest pass toward Lunana and the other after the highest pass at around 4,100 meters. And this helped save a life. While the team was about to reach the highest pass, one of the workers developed serious altitude sickness. He could not move any further. “He could not even descend back so a medical team was mobilized from the first transit medical camp to come and get him,” said karma Toeb.
The medical team arrived at the right moment and he was taken back. “The medical camps helped a lot. It saved one human life,” said the project manager, Dowchu Drukpa.
In 2009, the workers reduced the water level by 86 centimeter while last year they achieved 1.37 meters. This year the team achieved 1.45 meters taking the total to 3.68 meters. It is now left with 1.32 meters to meet the overall target.
No comments:
Post a Comment