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The Delta State Government says it awarded contracts for 123 water schemes in the last 10 months.
The state’s Commissioner for Water Development, Chief Samuel Mariere said this on Wednesday in Asaba when he briefed newsmen on the activities of the ministry.
He said that out of the 123 projects, 40 were to be jointly executed by the World Bank, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, 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, the 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 (LGA) of the state and reactivation of Osubi water supply scheme Okpe LGA,’’ he said.
Mariere also said that the ministry and its agencies awarded contracts for 73 water schemes, adding that out of the projects, 64 had been completed, in good shape, while nine were ongoing.
”Among the completed schemes are the rehabilitation of the state water laboratory in Asaba, construction of hybrid solar powered water supply scheme and treatment plant at Tisun and Kolokolo in Warri North LGA,” he said.
The commissioner also said that the government had successfully completed the State Water Master Plan.
”We also completed the Performance Improvement Action Plan (PIAP) 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 dollar to the state as initial advance from which we paid the 25 per cent for the water schemes and we also paid our consults,” he said.
Mariere who commended Gôv. Ifeanyi Okowa, said that another project that was dear to him was the concessioning of the Warri Effurun Water Scheme.
”This project that started during the old Bendel, now concluded and ready to distribute water to the homes of those in Warri, Uvwie, and Udu LGAs of the state.
”The major huddle was the request by the concessionaire and the financial institution for a guarantee that when the water is produced, within 36 months, the State will agree to offset the shortfall above 20 per cent and below 70 per cent of revenue.
”The State Executive Council recently approved the guarantee for about N4.5 billion which the State House of Assembly has approved.
”We can say without fear of contradiction and by the grace of God that in the next three months, the water story in Asaba to Okpanam and Ibuza, Warri, Uvwie, Udu and many communities both in the coastline and upland will be for the better,” he stated.