Flood Warning and Cryosphere Research Facility
©National Centre for Hydrology and Meteorology
Construction of Flood Warning and Cryosphere Research Facility
The station house in Thanza that accommodates office and the accommodation of NCHM staff posted to Lunana is located on pasture land opposite and overlooking the Tenchoe village. The staff on duty have to walk more than 1 km to have a visual verification during emergencies and even during regular monitoring of the river. The Thanza station house is also the only government structure in upper Lunana (Thanza and Tenchoe village) as of now.
In the past this station house was used as very important facility during VVIP’s visit and other official visits particularly the forestry and park services official and teachers. Thus, the Center proposes to relocate the current station house to a location where it has the direct visibility of river but at a safe zone with additional facilities. The Center initially identified the location close to S15 siren station.
Construction
The work was awarded to the contractor with 365 days for completion considering the remoteness of site and limited days of workable months. Actual Construction work started from the mid of July 2023 and was on halt from 8th November 2023 due to winter season.
In the following year, the work was resumed w.e.f from 7th April 2024 and was completed by 23rd June 2024.
Challenges Faced during the construction
The timber extraction process presented significant logistical challenges due to the remoteness of the project site, which required a three-day trek to access. Local transporters, capitalizing on the difficult terrain, inflated transportation costs, adding strain to the project budget. Seasoned timber preparation required foresight and planning, with forest permits secured a year in advance and trees felled well ahead of time. However, security concerns arose when some of the felled timber was stolen before it could be transported. These challenges underscore the complexity of working in remote, rugged areas where logistics and local dynamics play a pivotal role in project implementation.
Transportation of construction materials from road points to the project location relied heavily on local resources. Helicopter services were also utilized, completing 27 trips to deliver essential materials such as tiles and fencing supplies. However, this mode of transport was fraught with challenges due to unpredictable weather conditions during the monsoon season, leading to delays of up to three weeks at a time.
Despite these adversities, the innovative use of local resources and aerial transport demonstrated a commitment to overcoming the logistical hurdles inherent in remote-area construction.
The scarcity of skilled labor in the community further complicated the project. With no expatriate workers involved, all labor had to be sourced from within locality, often requiring costly transportation to the remote site via airlift or trekking. Daily wages for both skilled and unskilled laborers were high, reflecting the difficulty in attracting workers to the isolated location. The limited availability of specialists, such as electricians, plumbers, and tiling experts, posed additional challenges.
Impact
The Construction of the Flood Warning and Cryosphere Research facility at Thanza, Lunan under Gasa dzongkhag has greatly improved the reliability, accuracy, and ease of monitoring GLOF (Glacial Lake Outburst Flood) risks in the Lunana area. The center will also simplify the annual tasks of monitoring glacial lakes and glaciers, as well as the operation and maintenance of the GLOF Early Warning System (EWS). By providing a place to store field equipment at the site, it will reduce the annual transportation costs for conducting these activities.
Additionally, as the only available government infrastructure in the area, the center will facilitate field visits for other government agencies by serving as a base camp. With VIP guest accommodations, it will offer a comfortable and functional base. This more relevant now with improved heli-services as it will reduce the cost of transportation as we may not need to carry field gears and personnel effect.
Consecration of the Facility
