Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE ongoing rains are said to have contributed to the increase in water level at the Ruvu river basin, thus reducing water rationing in Dar es Salaam and some parts of the Coast Region.
Also, the efforts to clean up the basin from the source played a crucial role in increasing the water level, reducing rationing in the region. The Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Water, Eng Nadhifa Kemikimba said on Friday that efforts are underway to ensure availability of adequate supply of water for domestic, industrial and human activities.
However, she said the government is yet to lift a ban on permits for individuals to diverge and harvest water for human activities for the sake of ending rationing that has been caused by drop of water levels at the plant. “The government is determined to ensure availability and accessibility of water for domestic and human-economic activities, but for now, the focus is to cut the rationing at households,” she explained shortly after she graced a stakeholder’s consultation forum to deliberate on critical water status in Ruvu river catchment.
Eng Kemikimba who was representing the Minister for Water Jumaa Aweso during the event called on members of the public to adhere to rules and guidelines on the use and protection of sources of water for continued accessibility of the precious liquid. According to her, the government will continue to educate members of the public on ways of protecting water sources in an effort to avoid water shortage in the future.
“We have managed to remove all people with human activities near water catchment areas along Ruvu River… basically we have succeeded in stabilising the river water,” she explained. Going forward, Eng Kemikimba said the government will also keep on engaging stakeholders from the public and private sector in facing and finding solutions to challenges facing the sector.
Earlier, the Acting Director of the Wami/Ruvu Basin Water Board (WRBWB), Bariki Mmasi said that currently the basin pumps at a rate of 10,000 litres of water per second, out of the required 12,900 litres.
“Due to this, we are unable to lift the ban on water diversion and harvesting for human activities, until the crisis is fully contained,” he noted, adding that the current water levels can only serve a limited number of activities. He assured that even though the rainy season has started, the authorities will continue taking measures to ensure smooth flow of water from the source to the Ruvu plants in continued efforts
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