Mpango issues directives to boost water supply
VICE President Dr Philip Mpango has issued several directives aimed at protecting the environment and boosting the country’s water production capacity.
During his tour of Lower Ruvu Water Treatment Plant in Coast Region on Wednesday, the VP directed Regional Commissioners, District leaders and water basin boards to make extra efforts to control environmental degradation which has led to the destruction of water sources.
Dr Mpango issued the directives after being briefed on water availability in Coast and Dar es Salaam regions.
Equally, he instructed Ministries of Livestock, Agriculture, Water, Land, Natural Resources and Tourism, Union and Environment and other sectors to collaborate in addressing the problem in order to come up with a joint solution for the national interests.
Dr Mpango also said that the Ministry of Water in collaboration with Regional Administration and Local Government should speed up the implementation of water wells and dam projects in order to relieve residents from the current water deficit.
He said the Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Authority (DAWASA) should make sure that the current water rationing is done fairly.
Dr Mpango, however, strongly condemned the behavior by some wananchi who prepare their farms or grazing land by setting the land on fire, noting that such practice has been contributing to the destruction of forests in the country.
He said famers and livestock keepers should refrain from taking the law into their hands in case of any dispute and directed security organs to do justice against any criminal, including those who feed their animals on crops.
The VP further instructed the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to set plans for conducting animal census with the aim of knowing their number and the areas they are found in order to reduce migration of livestock in search of pasture.
Meanwhile, Dr Mpango has directed Ministries of Minerals and Energy to speed up production of alternative cooking energy in order to reduce the use of charcoal which contributes to environmental degradation.
He said the Ministry of Agriculture should conduct a thorough research by starting with strategic basins in order to identify ways used for distributing water and the amount flowing back to the respective rivers.
He instructed Ministry of Agriculture to oversee contractors who execute water dam projects to speed up the work in order to stimulate irrigation farming.
For his part, the Minister for Water, Mr Juma Aweso said that his docket will continue to work day and night to ensure that citizens have access to clean and safe water and address the current shortage.
“We have already collaborated with institutions and individuals who own large wells so that they can serve the citizens during this transitional period of water rationing in Dar es Salaam.” the minister said.
He further added that a total of 160 wells have been revived in Dar es Salaam region and are producing more than 26 million liters.
The Minister also unveiled that the government has secured a contractor to build the Kidunda Water Dam project in Morogoro region which is expected to help in irrigation agriculture, electricity production as well as access to reliable water.
