Three Delta council areas’ water project to gulp N9.5bn, says Commissioner

The Delta State Government has said that three council areas water project in the state will take a whopping sum of N9.5billion, Mr. Fidelis Tilije, the State Commissioner for Water Resources who made this known to journalists yesterday in Asaba while answering questions that bother on water supply across the state, said the money will be used for the completion of the project in Warri including treated water for the households in the three local government areas; Warri South, Uvwie and Udu respectively.

The Commissioner explained that the project though was established by the then Bendel State Government in 1993, adding that hitherto had not supply treated water to the three councils’ residents, even after the sum of N12billion spent allegedly by successive governments.

Regretting that the state present administration was faced with critical period of recession, especially in its dwindling income, the commissioner said Okowa led administration would do everything possible to ensure the project is executed and the water treated for its residents to drink.

He added that due to the huge capital outlay needed to complete the project with the present cash strap situation being experienced by the state government, a Private Public Partnership (PPP) arrangement had been entered to ensure funds are made available to complete the project.

His words: “The water scheme will have a capacity to hold 633, 000 gallon of water on completion and its water treatment plant will be able to process 68, 000 m3 per day and supply treated water to 30, 000 households”.

He disclosed that the project is already 80 percent completed, and out of which 17 member boreholes have sunk with each having a depth of 170m and a vied of 180m3 per hour, adding that a total of 190km of trunk mains and tertiary line of ductile iron pipe laid with a complete water quality control laboratory pumping stations among others.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tilije has further disclosed that the state has a water policy document which is first of its kind and that an executive bill on water will soon get to the House of Assembly for passage as a Water Law for Delta State, as part of measures to attract private investment in the water industry in the state.

The commissioner revealed that the state government is partnering with donor agencies such as the European Union and UNICEF to attract about N2.2bn of which the state is to make a counterpart funds payment of N4.4m and has already made part payment of N200m.

According to him, this arrangement will bring about construction of water facilities in two pilots local government areas of Ndokwa West and Isoko South of which the issuance of contract letters to successful bidders has commenced.

Sir Tilije said water consumer associations have been established in the 25 local government areas of the state to protect water facilities constructed by government against the acts of vandals and also assist in little maintenance.