From Chuma Austin,
Enugu
Residents of some parts of Enugu metropolis and its environs are groaning under severe hardship due to perennial water scarcity which had hit the area.
News Echo correspondent observed that residents of Abakpa-Nike, Ogui New Layout, Achara Layout, Agbani Road, Coal Camp have resulted in buying water from tanker drivers for survival while some drink well water.
It was also observed that some residents walk several kilometers to fetch water from ponds and streams as some people cannot afford N,4,000.00 to buy 75 liters of water from water-tank operators.
It was further learnt that irregular payment of salaries to workers of the state Water Corporation had not helped issue as there was visible low spirit and nonchalant attitude of staff in the parastatal when the reporter visited the office last week.
Some of the workers interviewed but preferred to remain anonymity said the authority should be blamed for lack of drinkable water in the City, adding that the government should stop paying lip service to people’s welfare. “We are being owed salaries and nobody is talking about it”, the anonymous staff added.
According to the respondent, “Water is a basic necessity of life. I wonder why they should be playing politics with water. For the past four years, Enugu people had been suffering because of acute scarcity of water”
In his reaction, the Special Adviser (SPA) to the Governor of Enugu State, on Water Resources, Hon. Anthony Dubem Onyia, reassured residents of the state that the issue of inadequate water supply would soon be a thing of the past.
Onyia maintained that the present administration is doing a lot, with the lean resources at its disposal, to address the issue of water in Enugu metropolis.
Onyia, however, noted that some areas in Enugu metropolis, such as, Iva Valley, GRA, New Haven, Ogui/Asata, Uwani, parts of Achara Layout, Abakpa Nike, Trans Ekulu, Independence Layout and Thinkers Corner, enjoy potable water supply,
The Special Adviser disclosed that the state government has commenced comprehensive rehabilitation of the 9th Mile Crash Programme, with solar powered boreholes to ensure adequate supply of potable water from Oji River, Ajali and Iva Water schemes to Enugu metropolis.
Onyia revealed that a contract of N600 million was recently awarded to FordMarx Nigeria Limited, for the rehabilitation of the 9th Mile Crash Programme, adding that the company has mobilized to site.
The Special Adviser explained that the contract which will be solar powered, to address the peculiar challenges of power failure, will boost the volume of water being reticulated from the ageing water schemes to Enugu metropolis.
He revealed that the state government has commenced the bid opening and evaluation meeting for new Okwojo Ngwo boreholes augmentation to Enugu metropolis.
Onyia said that the Okwojo Ngwo boreholes augmentation to Enugu metropolis, which is a network of 10 solar powered boreholes, is a newly conceived design which will help boost water production for the newly awarded 9th Mile Crash Programme.
“It will equally augment the existing water schemes in order to effectively manage and meet the demand of the growing population of Enugu metropolis”, he said.
He further explained that the state government has also committed funds to the actualization of FG Adada Dam Water Project in Nsukka, to guarantee its speedy actualization, stressing that Governor Ugwuanyi’s administration is not relenting in its bid to increase the sources of potable water supply, and to continue to maintain existing facilities.