Governor of Kano state, Abba Kabir Yusuf has ordered for immediate construction of solar-powered boreholes in two villages facing acute water shortage in the state.
BizPoint gathered that the governor raised concern about the plight of the residents of Danya and Kyallin-Bula villages in Bichi Local Government area, about 35kilometers from the Kano city.
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The governor’s concern was raised after watching a report on an online TV channel, which shows young girls passing nights daily on queue, after trekking a long distance, to fetch water in the villages.
Worried by the situation, the governor, it was gathered, swiftly called and shared the footage to the state’s Project Coordinator of the Agro Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes, ACReSAL, project, Dr Dahir M Hashim to immediately mobilize tools and logistics to construct boreholes in the two communities.
Workers makin surveys before commencement of drilling
Speaking to BizPoint in a telephone interview on Sunday, Hashim said his agency had already mobilized to the site, conducted survey and started drilling.
According to him, they discovered that Danya village is a low-hilled town with very low level of underground water, adding that they would do their best to ensure they drill deeply to get the water for usage of the inhabitants.
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He said the drilling work had nearly been completed and the water could be enough for consumption of the people in the village.
The Project Coordinator explained that Kyallin-Bula village is a high-hilled town with high water level but, according to him, is deeper than Danya town at about 100 metres to above.
ACReSAL coordinator interviewing some of the girls fetching water at long distance
“The water level in Danya village is 80 to 100 metres. Even for now, after drilling, we have got about 100 metres deep. But, based on the demand of the water, we will use all necessary tools to ensure that it comes up and reach the desired level.
“We are completing it tonight and start the drilling in Kyallin-Bula. We will do our best to make sure we provide adequate water to the consumption of the inhabitants,” he assured.
The ACReSAL Project Coordinator also disclosed that based on demand, he directed for census of all the households and population of the villages in a bid to provide the water that would be adequate for their daily consumption.
He explained that one solar powered borehole with six taps would be constructed in Danya, expressing optimism that it would be enough for the inhabitants.
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“For Kyallin-Bula, we found that there are some open wells already in existence. So, we are going to construct a borehole for them, a solar-powered also.
“At least we will provide a clean and portable water for the people. We will also protect their daughters from sexual harassment and hazards while going to fetch water.
“Safety wise, you would prevent children from fetching water at open wells which is dangerous to their life, he said.
The Project Coordinator assured that the project would be completed in the next 72 hours, assuring that “by God’s grace, water shortage in these two villages is going to be history soon.”
Asked about the cost of the project, Hashim said he could not ascertain the actual amount the project would gulp as it was he was assigned by the governor to supervise, adding that “normally, a project like that, depending on the meters, could cost like N13 million or so,”
BizPoint gathered that the water project had thrown residents of the villages, especially young girls into jubilation as they feel that the end of passing nights on queue to fetch has become end.