In a rare move, the present administration in Katsina state is embarking on massive water schemes throughout the length and breath of the state. HAMIDU SABO reports that it is a novel idea in the desert-land state.
It is always a fact that challenges make life interesting while overcoming them makes life meaningful. This is exactly what is happening in Katsina state at the moment as Governor Aminu Bello Masaru chose to invest heavily in the provision of portable drinking water across the state.
The recent assurances by Gov Masari to residents of Katsina and environs about stable water supply upon completion of the rehabilitation works at Ajiwa Dam and Water Treatment Plant has seriously indicated the readiness of the present administration on water supply to major parts of the state. Masari gave the assurance last Sunday when he inspected the Ajiwa water supply facility and some reservoirs and booster stations within Katsina metropolis that are under rehabilitation.
Masari noted that water supply, being one of the focal points of his administration, has received much attention through the construction of over a dozen dams and the construction of water distribution networks in major cities across the state.
Effort all encompassing
While at Ajiwa Water Supply Scheme, Masari pointed out that the ongoing rehabilitation is a holistic one that includes expansion of the dam and comprehensive works on the water treatment plant as well as the power supply system of the facility.
He explained that, “First of all, we started with the dam and we have completely rehabilitated it while all the pumps at the chemicals room have been changed. The filter media has been changed and what is now left is works on the pump house which we have done up to 75 percent.
“If not because of the delays and international trade and travel restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this rehabilitation project would have been completed in the last six months.
“By the time the third pump is installed and all other works that include civil, mechanical and electrical are completed, the Ajiwa Water Works will be able to produce its initial design capacity of 50 million litres of water per day which would be taken to Katsina for distribution.
“But we acknowledge the fact that Katsina has more than quadrupled its population as at 1974 when the facility was constructed, and this calls for supplementary sources of water supply to the town and its environs.
“This is why we installed distribution networks that would facilitate the supply of over 50 million litres that we expect from Zobe Dam.
“Also within the scope of this rehabilitation and upgrade project at Ajiwa is the improvement of the power generating capacity of the facility. We just inspected two generator rooms which we have erected as we await the delivery of two brand new 2,100 KVA generators from Germany.
Speaking further he said, “The delay in supplying the generators is also due to the Covid-19 travel and trade restrictions, but with the ease of restrictions now, we expect their arrival not long from now.
“With the current tempo, it is our hope that by the first quarter of 2021, we will be talking about the second phase of the project which includes increasing the height of the spillway and enlarging the crest of the dam to enable it store more water and an additional clarifier that will bring another 20 million litres on board.”This will provide us with enough water to supply to Mashi and environs,” the governor noted.
The rehabilitation band upgrade of the Ajiwa Water Supply project was awarded to M/S Continental Computers Resource and Investment Limited.
Contractor promises speedy completion
The chairman of the firm, Alhaji Salisu Mamman Kadandani while briefing Governor Masari at the premises of the facility explained that the two power generator houses are 100 percent completed, while the machines are still being test-run in Germany.He explained that, “As part of the government’s conscious efforts to procure premium quality machines, we have engaged the services of Rolls Roys Power Company that has its office in Munchen, Germany.
“The company is now in its forty-third week of manufacturing the generators and by next week its engineers will make an virtual online presentation of the machines during the State Executive Council meeting.
“By the first quarter of next year, we are going to receive delivery and full installation of a combined power of 4,200 KVA, translating to about 3,800 kilowatt of energy to power the Ajiwa Water Supply facility.
“The quantum of water to be generated and distributed from this facility requires a commensurate investment in power and the government is doing just that,” Kadandani said.
In a related development, Governor Masari has inspected the ongoing fencing of all booster stations and water supply reservoirs within Katsina metropolis.He explained that the project is aimed at guarding the facilities against encroachment by people that reside in the vicinity.
The water facilities that were fenced include the Kofar Kaura booster station, the domestic water reservoir at Rafin Dadi, the elevated concrete tank at Dutsinma Road and the Industrial Water Supply facility at Kano Road round-about.
Commissioner corroborates govt’s position
More interestingly, the state commissioner for water resources, Alhaji Musa Adamu Funtua, says no administration has shown total commitment to the execution of water projects than the present APC government in the state. Funtua was speaking during a press briefing held at the Government House, Katsina.
The commissioner announced that from the inception of the administration in 2015 to date, a total of over 18.7 billion naira was earmarked and approved for the design, rehabilitation, construction and upgrading of water supply projects in the state
He revealed that the state Ministry of Water Resources had been involved in planning, designing and rehabilitation of existing urban water schemes, upgrading of existing semi- urban water supply schemes, construction of rural water supply and sanitation by RUWASSA and government interventions on major repairs of operational activities in urban, semi urban and rural water supply schemes.
Alhaji Musa Adamu Funtua explained that there are six urban water supply schemes in Katsina, Daura, Funtua, Dutsinma, Malumfashi Jibiya, Mashi and Dutsi being operated by the state water board, adding that water supply schemes in small towns and rural areas are being operated by Rural water and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA).
Moreso, before 2015, the commissioner said water supply was left under capacity due to laxity in the operations and maintenance as well as lack of development projects to meet current and projected demand of the ever-increasing population in the state. He revealed that only Katsina, Dutsinma and Funtua urban water supply schemes are functioning below the design capacity, while the semi urban water supply schemes are largely neglected and can hardly meet the design production capacity.
Again, the commissioner stated that the water supply schemes are gradually being resuscitated by awarding various contracts from 2015 to date. Furthermore, the commissioner revealed that water supply operations and production commence in Zobe Regional Water Supply Scheme which was handed over to the state by the federal government, stressing that the scheme covers Katsina Metropolis and Dutsinma town, thereby providing additional supply to meet the demand of people.
The commissioner announced that the state government proposed to complete the Zobe Regional Water Supply Phase 1B to cover Karofi, Radda, Kafin Soli, Kankia and Charanchi. He added that the state government plans to upgrade Malumfashi Water Supply Scheme to become a regional one to cover Kankara and the villages on the route.
In addition, Funtua revealed that the state government plans to improve Ajiwa Dam to impound additional raw water reserves and a possible extension of treated water supply to Mani. With these developments, water scarcities would disappear within the shortest period.
