The Chairman of the Parliamentary Oversight Committee on Water Resources, Hon. Lahai Marrah has called on the government of Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Finance to provide sufficient funds for the Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) to carry on their activities.
Hon. Marah made this pronouncement while on oversight visit at the Gelehun Water Treatment Plant in Bo City.
The Chairman said that the money allocated for the company is very small and is not enough to maintain and rehabilitate their multibillion dollar water projects.
With so much work at hand coupled with numerous challenges facing the agency in the bid to proving water for the people in the provinces, Hon. Marah therefore called on the government to provide enough funds to the company so that they will be able to do maintenance work on water facilities and construct new ones in order for the agency to meet the SDG 6 and also meet the President’s agenda on water provision.
Speaking during the visit, the Deputy Managing Director of SALWACO, Mr. Albert Harrison Harvey told the parliamentarians that SALWACO budget allocation requested for 2021 is Le30 billion but only Le5 billion was approved. That amount was too small for the quantum of work the agency has to undertake within a year, he said.
The Deputy Managing Director added that providing water is not based on politics, tribe or religion but for the people of Sierra Leone as a God giving right.
“When someone is thirsty all he or she needs is water,” he said.
The Parliamentary Committee members on water were impressed with the work of the agency more especially the work done on the facilities while encouraging them to continue the good work.
The Station Manager of Bo, Ing. Bernadette Kargbo stated that power supply is the major challenge the station is facing, adding that the only way they are able to provide 24 hours uninterrupted water supply is when the problems of power supply is solved.
By SALWACO Communications Unit
18/12/2020. ISSUE NO: 7968