W. Gojjam November 23/2012
Preparations are finalized to construct 1670 safe water facilities, which have capacity to give service to over half a million people in West Gojjam Zone of Amhara State, the zonal water resource development department said. Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Expert with the department, Gebeyehu Tadesse said the facilities will be constructed with over 33.6 million Birr in the current Ethiopian budget year. The facilities include, among others, digging of water wells and installation of water pumping machines as well as development of springs. Upon going fully operational the facilities will help to increase safe water service coverage to 95 per cent from the present 83 per cent in rural areas and also to 98 per cent from the current 93 per cent in urban areas of the zone. The public will contribute labour, material and financial support valued at over 8.3 million Birr while the government and donor organizations will cover the balance for construction of the facilities, the Expert said.