Georgetown : In the 2014 Nation Budget $2.5B was allocated to the Water sector. According to Finance Minister Dr. Ashni Singh, this allocation seeks to expand safe, adequate and affordable water coverage across the country, with emphasis being placed on the replacement of electro-mechanical equipment and infrastructure, continued construction of new water treatment facilities and the extension of the network and metering.
“This money will facilitate the completion of several ongoing projects, and also the implementation of new projects, befitting thousands of Guyanese. These include the drilling, construction and completion of wells in Cotton Tree, Hope, Mon Repos, Sparendaam and Sophia, the construction of water clarifier and filter at Bartica and Eccles, the upgrade of service connections in East Berbice and Linden, and the installation of transmission and distribution mains in areas such as Vergenoegen, Victoria, Crabwood Creek, Angoy’s Avenue, and Bartica. Additionally, the two water treatment plants at Wisroc and Amelia’s Ward will be completed, benefitting more than 30,000 residents in Region Ten” the Minister said.
Residents of hinterland communities primarily, the indigenous population will also be exposed to healthier water supplies, through improvement works that are also catered for through this allocation. These water supply improvement projects are slated for hinterland communities in areas such as Waikerabi, Santa Rosa, Arau, Taruka, Kanapang, Kathur, Aishalton and St. Ignatius. This will bring significant relief and benefits to approximately 20,000 residents. Last year, over 15,000 people benefited from the $160 million Hinterland Water Supply Programme.
Also, with electricity charges soaring to approximately 60 percent of production costs, the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) has completed a comprehensive energy audit and will commence implementing initiatives dedicated exclusively to replacing and re-engineering the electro-mechanical features of its pumps and equipment in line with modern energy efficient technologies.
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