By KETRA KALUNGA
PARAMOUNT Chief Chitimukulu is happy the government has lined up various projects to reintroduce sewer dams and improve sanitation services.
The traditional leader expressed concern with lack of adequate sewer dams which has seen an increase in the usage of pit latrines and soakaways which he fears will cause underground water contamination.
This came to light when Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection Minister Dr Jonas Chanda paid a courtesy call on him in Kasama.
Paramount Chief Chitimukulu observed that the increase in the use of pit latrines and other underground sanitation sources poses a big environmental risk.
The minister however assured the Paramount chief that Government has put in place various programmes to reintroduce sewer dams and increase uptake of sanitation services to reduce on possible underground water contamination.
And Dr Chanda said Government was investing $53 million in water and sanitation in Muchinga and Northern provinces.
He said the project supported by the African Development Bank (ADB) is under Integrated Small Towns Water Supply and Sanitation.
According to the inister, the investment is aimed at providing clean and safe water and adequate sanitation services to 350, 000 people.
He said districts to benefit from the project were Kasama, Mbala, Nakonde and Mpika.
Dr Chanda said this in Kasama yesterday when he called on Northern Province Minister, Bwalya Chungu.
He said the work would include rehabilitation of old water supply and sanitation infrastructure and the construction of new infrastructure such as water treatment plants and water storage reservoirs.
Dr Chanda said Government was committed towards the implementation of ongoing water supply and sanitation projects across the country.
Meanwhile, Mr Chungu informed Dr. Chanda that Government has released K29 million for the Kaputa water project.
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