Govt is tackling water scarcity issue in Jos Metropolis- Engr Samchi
From Tongnaan Bawa, Jos
As scarcity of water hit parts of Jos metropolis,
Chairman of the Plateau State water services cooperation, Engineer Apollos Samchi, has assured citizens experiencing shortage in water supply of immediate restoration of pipes.
Engineer Samchi who spoke exclusively to our correspondent in his office in Rayfield,Jos, explained that one of the major dams supplying water to most parts of the metropolis from yakubu Gowon dam was faulty due to dilapidation of some pipes and over working of the transformer.
He said the dam supplies more than 70% of water in the State which was installed since 1981 and was receiving minimal attention and maintainance since then.
“All the pumps are old and not efficient, it can not produce to capacity, pipes are weak and cannot hold enough capacity of water”
Government is studying the equipment that all engineers design, it is not just a thing of change monetary, but for a long time” He maintained.
He promised to end the shortage within a week and encouraged people to reach out to the customer care service in the board for proper channeling and reconciliation of complains.
The Chairman however added that already, bid is on for contractors for the rehabilitation of the Lamingo dam which is a multimillion naira project.
“There are replacement of and extension pipes network in Jos North of the settlement. And most of the people are on such areas, and they find it difficult to access pipe burn water”
“Plateau State urban water supply in Jos South elevated steel tank has been reconstructed behind Yelwa Club, a pond that supply raw water which has been moribund for 25 years has been rehabilitated and renovated” said Samchi.
A resident of Jenta Adamu, Ezekiel Dontina explained that it has been difficult coping without water in my home saying that he spends as much as 1,500 for a tank of 200 litres every two days in buying the essential commodity.
“It is sad that every dry season we suffer lack of water in our area. We keep buying water that might not be enough for the entire family to use in this hard economy. We have experienced their issue for the past 9 years” He lamented.
For Chundung Kefas, who leaves in Tudun Wada, lamented that most times “We relay on people who allow us fetch from their various residence at a stipulated time. Any time there is no water we relay on those who sale water to the public in trolleys”
Our correspondent reports that for some who buy from water hawker, popularly known as Mai rural, pay #3,000 for few jerricans and are not sure of the source of water, but do not have any option because they are desperate.
They all called on the state water services cooperation to look into their plight and end the challenge of the shortage of water supply.
Our correspondent also reports that areas mostly affected by the scarcity in the Jos Metropolis are Jenta Adamu, Tudun wada, zinariya, and Rukuba Road.
