The Delta State Commissioner for Water Development, Chief Samuel Mariere, on Wednesday stated that the government awarded a contract for 123 water schemes within the past 10 months in Asaba.
Mariere briefing journalists on the activities of the ministry, stated that 40 out of the 123 water projects were 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 (SURWASH).
”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 revealed that the ministry and its agencies awarded contracts for 73 water schemes, adding that out of the projects, 64 had been completed and in good shape, while nine were ongoing. Other completed projects includes 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 Warri North LGA.
The commissioner also announced the successful completion of the State Water Master Plan by the government.
”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 thanked 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, adding 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.
The commissioner expressed confidence that the water situation in Asaba, Okpanam, Ibuza, Warri, Uvwie, Udu, and many other communities would improve in the next three months.
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