Green Energy Project in Merak, Trashigang

Merak Gewog has approximately 380 households with a population of around 2,500 people. The Gup proudly shared that there are currently no gungtongs in the village. During the monitoring visit, officials met with the Gup and Tshogpas of Merak Gewog. The officials sensitized the local leaders on the mandates of the Civil Society Organizations Authority and the governance structure of CSOs, while also providing background information on the purpose of the monitoring visit.

Bhutan Ecological Society has supported 90 households each in Merak and Sakteng with electric heaters and electric stoves to reduce dependence on firewood and promote green energy. The monitoring officials met with several beneficiaries, who shared that they had been using the electric stoves for the past three months and found them particularly useful for cooking rice. Owing to Merak’s high altitude, rice often does not cook properly in electric rice cookers and traditionally has to be prepared on bukharis using firewood. This practice not only contributes to the degradation of the limited forest resources but also requires significantly more time for cooking. Beneficiaries reported that the electric stoves have reduced rice cooking time by almost half compared to conventional firewood stoves, making them a highly valuable utility.

Beneficiaries expressed that with electric heaters it has not only reduced reliance on forest and time consumption in firewood collection but also improved cleanliness within the household. The support was primarily provided to households without yaks or cattle and, consequently, with limited income sources.

Community members expressed that if the support could be extended to all households it would be immensely beneficial. Additionally, the Gup highlighted several pressing challenges faced by the Gewog, including the drying up of water sources, which has increasingly affected the sustainability of herding and livestock-rearing activities. The need to improve yak shed infrastructure in response to the impacts of climate change was also emphasized.

The Gewog further faces sanitation challenges, as some residents continue to practice open defecation instead of using toilets, largely due to concerns over septic tank overflow. The Gup specifically noted that, with adequate financial and strategic support, the Gewog would be well-positioned to mobilize youth-led initiatives, given the presence of a large and active youth population in the community.