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Dawasco says network sabotage may prolong water shortage in city
2008-03-14 09:20:03
By Njonanje Samwel
Dar es Salaam city residents have been alerted on a possible prolonged water shortage, following increased rampant human activities on the Lower Ruvu distribution network attributed to dishonest people who obtain water illegally.
According to Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Corporation (Dawasco) people sabotaging distribution mains to obtain water illegitimately for various human activities were disrupting distribution plans and shortages were likely to happen.
Speaking at Mpiji Village, one of the most affected areas, in Bagamoyo District, Dawasco Engineer Francis Mfumbuka said that more than 70 per cent of Dar es Salaam residents would go without water if more sabotage would occur to the pipe.
He made the alert yesterday shortly after inspecting water infrastructure on Lower Ruvu in Bagamoyo district, Coast Region yesterday.
He said hundreds of lorries were heading to Coast Region villages from the city where they search for sand and other construction materials, believed to be of high demand in the cities and towns.
``The pipe is now under threat of being sabotaged following increased human activities,`` warned Mfumbuka, who also predicted frequent water shortage downstream if immediate action was not taken to redress the situation.
He said in collaboration with other state organs, Dawasco had always been taking precautionary measures like organising surprise visits and marking areas close to the pipe, adding that efforts proved futile when dishonest villagers removed the warning marks using them as scraps.
He said the main 54-inch water pipe needed enough layers of sand to cover it. ``There are areas which the pipe is just a single spade deep,`` he informed.
He appealed to the villagers to exercise patriotism by safeguarding and stopping all activities of sabotaging the infrastructures, as doing so would save the nation from incurring unnecessary costs.
For her part, Dawasco Public Relations Manager, Badra Masoud called on other state organs, especially those dealing with environment and construction to help curb the situation.
``We (Dawasco) call for other government organs to come to our help and curb the situation,`` she said, adding that it was impossible for the company alone to protect the infrastructure which extends for more than 40 kilometres.
Lower Ruvu plant serves many areas in the city, including Mbezi Beach, Kawe, Mwenge, Kijitonyama, Mikocheni, Oysterbay, Msasani Peninsula, Kinondoni and the city centre.
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