From: Obinna Odogwu, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Government, on Monday, said it had broken the age-long jinx in the area of distribution of portable water in the state.
Commissioner for Water Resources, Mrs. Euphemia Nwali, while addressing journalists, said the ministry had fixed all problems associated with reticulation of water across the state with the state capital taking the lead.
She said the state government, through the ministry of water resources, had embarked on provision of affordable water to the people of Ebonyi State in a sustainable manner to improve living standard of the people.
Nwali disclosed that following the water losses in the pipe network in Abakaliki metropolis, often occasioned by vandalism on the pipes conveying water from the Oferekpe Water Scheme, the state government embarked on comprehensive pipe replacement programme in order to reduce water loss, replaced aged pipes and ensured sustainability in water delivery.
She said water has been reticulated to a distance covering over 500km using different sizes of HDP pipes which WHO recommended for water distribution and over 23 streets have been covered and HDP pipes ranging from 181 lengths of 6 HDP pipes and installation of fitting were also used to achieve the feat.
The Commissioner also flayed the statement allegedly credited to the former General Manager of the defunct Ebonyi Water Corporation, Paul Okorie alleging that there was no water in the state and described the statement as pure falsehood coming from the propagandists of opposition party in the state.
“The state government has completed two giant water schemes it inherited from the past administration example of such included the Iyiokwu washout chamber which was awarded to James JS Construction Company and washing of Oferekpe Water transmission line.
“The state government has been able to design and initiate the construction of new water scheme in Ishiagu in Ivo local government area of the state and reconstruction of Uburu water scheme. All these were achieved within just two years in office and that is why water is running in every home in the state” she added.