Enugu State Govt. expresses concern on shortfall of water to city centres – Commissioner

NAN-H-102
Water
By Emmanuel Acha
Enugu, Feb. 15, 2017 (NAN) Enugu State Commissioner for Water Resources Charles Egungbe has said that the current shortfall in water supply to city centres was a major concern to government.

Egungbe who made this known at the 2017 budget breakdown in Enugu on Wednesday, said that the state government redoubled efforts to improve the volume of water supplied to the affected areas.

He said that the budgetary allocation of N800 million to Water Corporation might not be sufficient compared with the quantum of assignments they provide but government had shown the will to solve the problem.

“If what we have in the 2017 budget is given to us, it will greatly improve water supply in the state,” he said.

The commissioner said that prior to the advent of the current administration the corporation could only supply 15 cubic meters of water to Enugu urban.

“The corporation is solely responsible for the supply of water in Enugu urban and the area requires about 200,000 metric tonnes

“Through government intervention and prudent resource management, we can now produce 15,000 metric tonnes

“It is not the size of the budget that matters but how you deploy the one allocated to you and we hope to do better if there is improvement in the global economy,” he said.

Egungbe said that the state government was currently negotiating with the French Development Agency to intervene in the supply of water to residents of the area.

He said the state government was making efforts to defray over 71 months pension arrears owed retired staff of agencies under the ministry.

The commissioner blamed the debt on lack of foresight and prudence on the part of management of the affected agencies.

He said the state government was worried that pensions and gratuities were owed and was dialoguing with the affected retirees. (NAN)

EOA/OIF/OFN

Edited by Ifeyinwa Okonkwo//Felix Nwadioha