Ajiwa dam to be completed May next year – Masari

Governor Aminu Bello Masari of Katsina State has assured the people of the state that rejuvenation of Ajiwa water treatment plant that supplies potable water to Katsina and environs will be completed in May next year.

Masari, who disclosed this while inspecting the project at Ajiwa over the weekend, said if that is done, a significant part of Katsina and environs will have adequate and steady water supply.

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“I think by end of May, 2022, the restoration in terms of capacity of water works would have been completed.

“That means we will be able to supply 45 to 50 million litres of water per day in addition to what is coming from Zobe.

“You know, rehabilitation is a very difficult work, when you start, you will never know the end until when the end comes.

“We started the work with the dam and then changing of components and building new pump room.

“But then when we got to the clarifiers, we discovered that the components were obsolete, installed since 1974 and 1981.

“We had to invite the original manufacturer of these components for us to be able to restore the capacity of the facility, because we don’t want to buy from other sources,”

“What we are trying to do is restore the facility to its original capacity. God willing, by the half of next year, we will complete and we will then focus on raising the capacity of the dam and design another treatment plant alongside it.

“What I am hoping is that the next administration will concentrate on raising the capacity of the water works.

“If we can produce additional 20 to 30m litres per day, then we will be able to service areas like Mashi and Mani because they have problem of underground water,” he said.

Earlier in his explanation, the contractor, Alhaji Salisu Mamman Continental, told the governor that adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure the completion of the project at the stipulated time.

He said if fully restored, the Ajiwa treatment plant will be utilized for the next 50 years.