Water Crisis hits Auchi residents

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Residents of Auchi and its environs in the Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State have cried out over water scarcity, appealing to the federal government to provide potable water for residents of the area.

The residents said that the problem appeared to be beyond the state government, given the huge sum of money required to provide the commodity, saying that only the federal government?s intervention would resolve the problem.

One of the residents, Mr Afolabi Bada, said that the problem could be solved through the construction of a dam in the area.

Alternatively, Bada said that the Ojirami Dam in the area should be reconstructed and its reticulation extended for desired performance.

He said that the water scarcity has exposed more than 80 per cent of residents to great danger from water-borne diseases as, according to him, people get water from all kinds of sources.

Another resident, Mr Abu Sanni, lamented that efforts by the Edo Government to provide boreholes in major towns in the state had not yielded much result.

He said that apart from being few, when compared to the population in the towns, the boreholes have failed to produce water.

Sanni said that the public water works in Auchi has for many years been? abandoned.

The Auchi Water Works, with capacity for about 100 cubic litres when functional, only meets the water needs of less than a quarter of the city?s population.

Another resident, Mrs Abibat Momoh, said that the water problem in the area was beyond the comprehension of the people.

She said that managing homes in the area had become difficul, adding that apart from being expensive, ?you don?t easily find water to buy?.

Momoh said that a tanker of water with capacity for 8,000 litres delivered its content at between N4,500 and N5,500, depending on the source of water.

?A 20-litre jerry can of water is sold at N30 and N35 while a tank of 500 litres goes for between N1,500 and N1,600,? she added.

Reacting, the state’s Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Mr Chris Ebare, said the government had plans for a comprehensive water programme in the state.

?The commissioner, who is less than one week in office, said that he had been briefed about the water situation in the state and assured that the problems would be tackled.

?I have just had a meeting with the general manager of the state’s water board and I can tell you that serious work is going on in all water works with problem,? he said.

?This is not just about Auchi but the entire state. This government placed a high priority on issue of water because of its importance to the people.?

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