From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
Five major urban water schemes long abandoned by successive governments in Anambra State are to be revived by the Soludo administration in the year 2024.
Anambra state Commissioner for Power and Water Resources, Engr Julius Chukwuemeka made this disclosure in Awka during the 2024 budget defense /bilateral discussion presided by the Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Finance and Appropriation chaired by Hon. Ejike Okechukwu and Committee on Power and Water Resources chaired by Hon. Chimezie Ikwunne.
According to the Commissioner, 70% of water resources in the state were not working at the moment because of various reasons, including inability of communities to take ownership of the projects in their localities and lack of electricity.
According to the Commissioner, the major Urban Water Schemes are located in Awka, Nnewi, Onitsha and Otuocha.
He noted that when the 2024 budget would be passed, the Ministry intended to restore steady public water supply to the residents.
Mr. Chukwuemeka also noted that the semi urban cities, including Obosi, Umunze, Agulu, and Ekwuluobia would be provided with portable water supply for the people.
He said the Governor Soludo led government had approved the conversion of most of the old rural fuel powered water projects to solar powered mechanism as they stopped functioning because the inability to fuel the generating sets.
Speaking on electricity, Engr. Chukwuemeka said next year, the ministry is planning to reach out to as many communities as possible.
“In the power sector reform, we will set up Anambra State electricity market with other regulatory legal framework that will enable private sectors to come and generate and transmit power in the state. We have a disruptive change through the conversion of street lights inherited which was running in diesel but was converted to solar. About 25,000 street lights have been converted. By next year 2024, we will sustain the momentum through mounting new ones” he said.