Kirehe – Complaints of acute water shortage in many parts of Kirehe District have persisted despite assurances that plans were in place to ensure adequate clean water supply.Many sectors of the district are facing heightened water shortage due to the ongoing dry season.Speaking to The New Times yesterday, concerned residents called for an immediate solution, saying that some make, on average, six kilometres to access clean water, which is also expensive.Moise Habiyakare, a resident of Nyakarambi town said that they pay heavy monthly water bills.Habiyakare, a high school teacher said that authorities should work out the issue of scarcity of water in the district, arguing that it was long overdue. "I had to buy a bicycle for fetching water, as a means of survival! Water is a basic need we can’t do without, it thus needs more attention. But something has to be done.”Claudette Mukamana, another resident noted that lack of water was having adverse effects on family income and children’s education.She said that the government should prioritise availing water to communities to check a number of problems."We walk about six kilometres down the hills to fetch water...most of our time is spent on fetching water, leaving little time to attend our gardens. It affects our income. Sometimes we are accompanied by our children so as to stock enough water for the day. School children’s education is thus affected,” she said.The Director of Planning and Budget in Eastern Province, Boniface Nirenganya confirmed the issue of water scarcity in the district.He however said that arrangements to avail water to sectors were at advanced level."JICA will have availed water to at least five sectors by September. An estimated 40.000 residents will get water within their possible proximity. Otherwise, the issue is known to authorities,” he said.JICA is Japan International Cooperation Agency.