CULLED FROM AWOKO Sierra Leone News: Half of Salone to access clean water by 2016 In an exclusive interview with Awoko, the acting Director-General of the Sierra Leone Water Company, Samuel Bangura has assured that by 2016 more than half of Sierra Leoneans will have access to clean and safe water. He explained to this reporter that since 2002, the company has been engaged in a number of urban, peri-urban and rural water supply and sanitation projects funded by the Government of Sierra Leone and its donor partners. However, Bangura went on that the projects inherited by the current management had many challenges ranging from technical, financial and managerial problems. Notwithstanding, the acting Rural Water Director General gave a comprehensive up-date on how far the company has gone in rehabilitating some of the old water stations around the country. Bangura also informed about the expansion plans which are on-going in rural cities, district headquarter towns, large provincial towns and pro-rural communities. These developments he disclosed are made possible with support from the African Development Bank (ADB). He said works are now well advanced and within 15 months these project areas will have access to safe and clean water, which he said is a basic human right. He described SALWACO as “a responsible rural water company” which is why he maintained, they have been able to secure funds from the Kuwait Fund to support feasibility studies for the rehabilitation of water supply facilities in Koidu New Sembehun, Sefadu, and Yengema in the Kono district. These communities according to the SALWACO acting D.G. are second to Freetown in terms of size. He also disclosed that in February similar studies would be conducted in Bonthe City with hope of work starting on its water facility by the end of the year work. He said Bonthe has been deprived of clean water service for a very long time. He was very concerned by the lack of it on Christmas Island, which is a potential tourist destination. Bangura said though they are expecting challenges during the process of implementation, “management is redoubling its efforts to ensure that contractors meet the deadline of service delivery, especially in large provincial settlements were work has been going on during the past three years,” he assured. With regards to the Pro-Rural Water Project, the acting D.G. said twenty-four communities in Freetown are currently beneficiaries of solar powered bore holes and water distribution plants. He promised to replicate these facilities in other pro-rural communities around the country as resources become available, noting that Sierra Leoneans are in a hurry to access clean and safe water. Bangura disclosed that the African Development Bank is providing financial support for the implementation of the rural water project in five rural districts while government is seeking funding for the remaining seven. By Ade Campbell
Posted on: Wed, 29 Jan 2014 12:56:13 +0000
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