Written by Abubakarr Bah
Thursday, 14 January 2010
Residents of Shelmingo Layout, Kendeyela, Tengbewabu, and other extension areas in Bo City are currently experiencing shortage in water supplies. The water wells which are the only source of potable water are reportedly running dry. Women and children now queue to fetch water from other bore holes within the Bo Community. The Bo City and District Councils have complained that they could not do much as the Sierra Leone Water Company (SALWACO) has not devolved the function of water supply to the councils. The Chief Administrator of the Bo City Council, William Alpha, described the problem of water shortage as unfortunate. He said the failure of SALWACO to devolve the function was a major setback to the devolution process. The concerned residents called on the government to come to their aid. Also, residents of the Leicester Road community in Freetown on Tuesday say they are experiencing a water crisis in their community. They told CTN that there is no potable water in their community, adding that the two water catchments they depended on have almost dried up. The residents claimed that their Councilor, Samuel Bongor Sesay, had earlier promised to provide the community with pipe-borne water, but that he had failed to live up to his promise. Councilor Samuel Bongor Sesay acknowledged that there is a water crisis in his ward, especially within the Leicester Road Community. But, he urged residents of the community to exercise patience, noting that the Freetown City Council was putting plans in place to address the water situation in the community.