3.3bn/- to improve water infrastructure in Mtwara
MTWARA District is set to receive 3.3bn/- in 2022/2023 financial year to avail water supply infrastructures to improve water services in the region.
District Manager for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) Engineer Hamisi Mashindike made the revelation here, saying the funds will also help in management of RUWASA office, social and environmental issues.
Speaking in an interview with ‘Daily News’ recently Engineer Mashindike said the disbursement of the funds will help the agency improve further water services in the district towards attaining the set water goal of 85 per cent water availability in rural area.
“The government has made massive improvement in the water supply in the district through funding of implementation of water projects which are set to increase water supply by 85 per cent in rural areas of Mtwara,” he said.
He said seven water projects are currently being implemented and are expected to end water woes come 2025.
“Currently, we have seven water projects whose implementation are underway, the schemes are being implemented under the budget for financial year 2021/22,” he said.
Basing on the massive improvement made by the government, some 211,593 out 367,091 people in rural district of Mtwara are receiving clean and safe water.
“By December 2022, a total of 211,593 (57.6 per cent) out of 367,091 people in Mtwara rural access clean and safe water, and this is after the establishment of RUWASA,” he said.
Before, RUWASA Engineer Mashindike said only 161.490 (50.2 percent) out 321,211 people had access to safe water in the rural of Mtwara District.
Meanwhile Enginner Mashindike said the agency in the district has set various strategies to push for the attainment of the set goal of 85 per cent water supply in Mtwara District’s rural areas.
He mentioned some of the strategies as water infrastructure rehabilitation, creating public awareness on water harvesting at household level, and policy harmonisation to protect water sources.
Other plans include creating public campaigns to encourage people pay water bills on time.
Engineer Mashindike said water sector in the district faces many challenges including deterioration of water infrastructure, and lack of water facilities.
