Dar water crisis: Wassira visits repair...
 
2006-10-10 09:24:43
By Mawazo Malembeka, PST, Iringa.

	Engineers repair a 54 inch water pipe at Tegeta, on the outskirt of Dar es Salaam yesterday. (Photo: Khalfan Said)

Minister for Water Stephen Wassira has directed the contractor repairing the leaking main water pipe that supplies water to larger part of Dar es Salaam to complete the work by 6:00 pm yesterday.

Wassira gave the order yesterday after a surprise visit to the site at Tegeta in Kinondoni Municipality, following water scarcity which hit over 80 per cent of Dar es Salaam water consumers.

Messr Spenco Services Limited are the contractors repairing the 54-inch diameter water pipe which supplies water from Lower Ruvu River in Bagamoyo District.

” Last Saturday, the company asked the Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Corporation (DAWASCO) to switch off lower Ruvu pumping station for 12 hours, in order to repair a leaking pipe. However, they did not finished the work on time ,” he said.

The minister added: ’’By six this evening. I will be back to check whether my order has been implemented.”

Spenco Area Manager for Tanzania Allan Reddy said his company was working round the clock as directed by the minister.

” We have deployed 10 teams at the site, we would like to assure Dar es Salaam residents that water will be flowing tonight,” he said.

Several parts of Dar es Salaam experienced water shortage since last Friday and vendors cashed in on the situation by selling a 20-litre jerrycan of water at between 500/- and 700/-.

• SOURCE: Guardian