Sikkim government distributes GCI sheets to strengthen housing in Dzongu

To safeguard vulnerable communities, the Government of Sikkim, under the leadership of Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang Golay, has distributed Galvanized Corrugated Iron (GCI) sheets to beneficiaries in Dzongu. The initiative, carried out through the Block Administrative Centre (BAC) Passingdang, aims to reinforce housing in Sakyong Pentong and Tingvong Gram Panchayat Units (GPUs) ahead of the monsoon season.

The timely distribution was undertaken in anticipation of potential connectivity disruptions, as the Bailey bridge over the Kanaka River at Mantam is scheduled for removal. The handover ceremony at BAC Passingdang was attended by local panchayat leaders, social workers, and representatives of the Area MLA and BAC functionaries.

Dzongu has faced persistent infrastructure challenges since 2016, when a massive landslide destroyed the only bridge linking the GPUs to the rest of the state. Due to the rugged terrain of Mantam, building a permanent replacement has been difficult. However, alternative bridges near Laven in Lingthem Lingdem GPU are nearing completion, and work on another bridge at Ruklu Kayem is expected to resume soon.

Another critical concern is the permanent bridge at Sangklang, which was washed away by the Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) on October 4, 2023. Though the state government constructed a replacement last year, it was destroyed by a cloudburst on June 12, 2024. The Indian Army has now taken over the project, and the new bridge is expected to be completed by June 2025.