Towards addressing perceived social negative impact associated with its ongoing Urban Water Supply Expansion project, Bauchi State Water and Sewerage Corporation (BSWSC) has solicited the support of Women Groups in bringing to fore the expected social negative impact the project may likely generate among communities within Bauchi metropolis and environs.
Addressing the women groups drawn from CSOs and NGOs domiciled in Bauchi, an Environmental and Social Safety Consultant, Dr. Eyitope Ajayi implore the women to bring out the likely negative impact of the proposed water project that may affect the communities negatively.
“Because of your experience as mothers and wives, we would like to hear these negative social impact of project from women perspective. This will enable us capture the fears, apprehensions and observations in our report, with a view to addressing them before the commencement of the project in earnest. It is also part of the the Environmental Social Management Plan (ESMP), which is also a prerequisite before executing such high profile projects within community circles”.
Explaining the nature of the Project, Social Safeguard officer of the Corporation Mallam Aliyu Musa Dambam said the project components involves the laying of 7,968.31 meters of 500 millimeter transmission pipes from Gubi Dam junction to Buzaye hill reservoir and the laying of 12,081.23 meters of 1000/900 Millimeter transmission pipes from Gubi Dam conventional water treatment plant to Warinje hill reservoir.
Others according to Mallam Aliyu were: Expansion of Gubi Dam conventional Water Treatment Plant to increase its capacity to 75, 000 cubic meter per day, Extension of 100 Kilometer pipe network within Bauchi metropolis and Rehabilitation of 22,000 cubic meter concrete reservoir at Warinje Hill.
WikkiTimes reports that the project is under World Bank Assisted Third National Urban Water Sector Reform Project (NUWSRP3) of which Bauchi State is among the beneficiaries.
Insufficient quality water supply has been an enduring problem across many cities in Nigeria with minimal stakeholder-approach to address the problem.
