NGORORERO–Residents in Ngororero District in the Western Province have raised complaints over persistent water shortage in many parts of the district.They appealed to local authorities to help them address the issue, which they say is affecting them in various ways.In Ngororero town, for instance, water is only available in the morning and during the night. When The New Times visited the area recently, all the water selling points were closed.Claude Muhawenimana, a resident of Kageyo sector, told this paper that access to clean water is still a major challenge.He said scarcity had led to many people resorting to unsafe water posing a health hazard.A businesswoman in Ngororero town, who asked not to be named, said due to the water shortage in the area, a 20-litre jerrycan sometimes costs over Rwf100.When contacted, the district mayor, Gedeon Ruboneza, acknowledged the water shortage but assured the residents that water would be availed in their villages soon.According to the mayor, the district has earmarked Rwf300m for water supply projects in the 2012/2013 budget.The money will be used to build three channels which will supply water in various parts of the district.“Currently, access to clean water stands at 65 per cent of all residents in the district, but we want by the end of this [fiscal] year, access to rise to at least 80 per cent,” Ruboneza said.He urged residents to economise water, especially during this dry season.
