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Kano state government has assured the general public that the December target set for completion of water rehablitation projects will be met.
The state’s Commissioner for Water, Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahir Hashim gave the assurance during an inspection tour to see the level of the works at Challawa Water Treatment Plant and 40 million litre Goron Dutse reservoir.
DAILY NIGERIAN reports that the state government had contracted the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation Ltd., CCECC, to execute the rehabilitation project at the main treatment plants, Challawa, Tamburawa and Watari, as well as other substations.
Addressing journalists during the visit on Thursday, Mr Hashim said he is impressed by the level of the work taking place at the Challawa treatment plant.
According to the Commissioner, all the 16 filtration units, which only four were working previously, had been fully restored and the repair work is still going on.
According to him, the clarifiers rehablitation work is ongoing and the ministry has been given assurance that most of the replacement and other form of maintenance are going to be carried out.
Mr Hashim explained that the ministry is satisfied with the maintenance work being carried out simultaneously on the manifold, that is responsible for taking water to Kano and the high lift pumps.
“We want to assure the public that this administration is very much committed to ensure that this issue of water scarcity is being btought into complete halt.
“We are, after this one, maybe within the week going to visit Tamburawa as well, and the general public, have already seen the level of commitment we are putting in the regional water scheme,” he said.
Mr Hashim disclosed that the state government had already restored the Buzu-Buzu water distribution station supplying Kabo and Rimingado axis in the state.
According to him, the government had already restored Joda station that supplies water to the people of Gabasawa, Gezawa and Minjibir, adding that the rehabilitation works there are nearly completed.
The Commissioner highlighted on the capacity of the pumping system at that time, which was less than 30 percent.
“Challawa in total was providing only 25 to 30 percent when we came in, due to the nature of the situation, how it worsened. But fortunately, now with the intervention of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano State, there is now improved supply and production from Challawa and Watari as well as Tamburawa.
“So the government did not stop there. It decided to think of the existing reservoirs, supplying water to the public. We have three major reservoirs here, which we are right on them now.
“The first reservoir, constructed in the year 1930. The second reservoir and the third, all constructed in the year 1974, during the late Governor of Kano State, Alaji Awodobako, blessed memory. So for over ten years, none of these reservoirs is accommodating any water, because water was not coming to this place from Chalao.
“And basically, these three reservoirs were constructed to receive water from Challawa and supply to the people of the metropolitan Kano. But for all this long, water was not here, neither to the public from here. So that is why the government thought it necessary, that no matter what, these three reservoirs should be rehabilitated.
“And they should be put to supply water to the people of Kano, most of which are the metropolitan people here. And Alamdulai, His Excellency, has fulfilled his promise. We’ve been here in the last six months, undertaking various degree of repair works on the reservoirs.
“Right from desilting, replacement of existing pipe networks, which are all asbestos pipes, and they are now being replaced by steel pipes. You can see the number of contractors busy on site here. And it is our prayer, before the end of September, we should be able to have water here and supply it to the public.
“So this is a great work done by the government, and I want to say kudos to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kano, for this commitment,” he said.
The Commissioner therefore assured the people of the state the the government is determined to meet the December completion deadline.
He also called on the general public to ensure safe water usage, cautioning them to complement the government’s commitments by handling their water sources with care.
In his remarks, the project manager of the CCECC, Tang Yiran also expressed determination to achieving the December completion target.
He said the project is progressing steadily and the company is working assiduously to ensure that the set target is met.
Mr Yiran added that the transmission works would be test ran in September, assuring that the machines being procured by the government would arrive Kano any time soon.
“As soon as they arrive, installation works will commence and everything will be completed by the December,” Mr Yiran assured.
