by crossriverwatch admin
There is fear of imminent water borne diseases in Cross River State capital as water scarcity hits Calabar and its environs.
Our correspondent who monitored the town observed that users of the essential commodity now go kilometers to get water from the private boreholes owners.
The scarcity which became severe on Monday, 23rd June 2014 in areas like Henshaw Town, Cobham Town, Mayne Avenue has spread to all around Calabar and its environs.
Also hit by the scarcity is Obubra the most populous local government in the central Senatorial district.
This is coming on the heels of the declaration by the State Commissioner for Water Resources, Engineer Elemi Etowa that water is no more a social commodity but an economic need which must be paid for to ensure 24 hours supply.
Etowa stated this in his opening remarks during the bid opening ceremony for the construction/extension of the water production and distribution systems for Obubra and Okpoma.
He stressed that in the World Bank evaluation guidelines, it was not mandatory for the lowest bidder to win the contract, but the lowest and most responsive bidder was qualified to win the contract.
He mentioned that the two public water supply schemes are funded by the French Government through the French Development Agency (AFD) to the tune of 43.9 million US Dollars and being managed by the World Bank.
He added that at the end of completion period of May 31, 2016, the benefiting communities will be expected to pay their water bills regularly to sustain the systems, stressing that “portable water is no more a social commodity but an economic good which must be paid for to maintain 24/7 water supply regime and sustainability of the facilities as well”
The Commissioner used the occasion to charge benefiting communities to co-operate with contractors and project officials working in their domains.
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