Delta approves 123 water projects in 10 months
The Delta State Government says it has approved about 123 water project schemes within the past 10 months. This was disclosed by the Commissioner for Water Development, Chief Samuel Mariere while briefing journalists on the ministry’s activities in Asaba on Wednesday.
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He explained that 40 out of the 123 water projects are to be executed jointly by the World Bank, the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, and the State Sustainable Urban and Rural Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene.
”The schemes have just been awarded and contractors have been mobilised with 25 per cent down payment.
”We expect that in the next three months, people of the state will start enjoying the benefits of those schemes.
”The schemes include rehabilitation and improvement works of Udomi Abavo water supply scheme in Ika South Local Government Area of the state and reactivation of Osubi water supply scheme Okpe LGA,’’ he added.
Mariere also revealed that the ministry and its agencies had awarded contracts for 73 water schemes out of which 64 have been completed and in good condition, while nine are still ongoing.
He also identified some of the completed projects to include the rehabilitation of the state water laboratory in Asaba, and the construction of hybrid solar-powered water supply and treatment plants in Tisun and Kolokolo in the Warri North LGA.
The commissioner also announced that the State Water Master Plan had been successfully completed by the government.
He said, ”We also completed the Performance Improvement Action Plan for various agencies and this attracted a reward of 2.5 million dollars from the World Bank, though we are yet to receive payment.
”The World Bank recently released the sum of $1 million to the state as an initial advance from which we paid the 25 per cent for the water schemes and we also paid our consults,” he said.
Mariere however commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his work and said that the concession of the Warri Effurun Water Scheme was another project that was important to him. He explained that the project, which began during the old Bendel State, has been completed and is ready to distribute water to homes in Warri, Uvwie, and Udu LGAs of the state.
He explained that there had been a request by the concessionaire and financial institution for a guarantee from the state that if the water produced was below 70% of revenue, the state would agree to offset the shortfall above 20%.
Mariere expressed confidence that the water situation in Asaba, Okpanam, Ibuza, Warri, Uvwie, Udu, and many other communities, both in the coastline and upland, would improve in the next three months.
Wumi/Punch
