Members of Parliament on Wednesday voiced a strong objection to the government’s proposal to purchase 100 water tanks at a cost of $9
million, a proposal aimed at addressing Juba's water crisis.
The plan was proposed by the Ministry of Water Resources and
Irrigation as a short-term solution to the water supply issue in the capital.
“We came with an idea, a possible solution which we
hope can address the problem of water. It was for the government to buy tankers
of its own so that we own the production and at the same time the distribution
role,” said Pal Mai Deng, minister of water resources and irrigation.
On Wednesday, when MPs questioned the minister, the Governor
of Central Equatoria State, the Mayor of Juba City Council, the Urban Water
Cooperation, and the Juba County Commissioner about the water prices in Juba,
which fluctuate between 5,000 SSP and 10,000 SSP depending on the residential
areas, Mai emphasized that while the country is working on lasting solutions
like household water connections, water tankers would provide an immediate
solution.
“We prepared a memo as Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation,
submitted to economic cluster for presentation, was approved and then submitted
to Council of Ministers for another presentation for final approval but it has
not been tabled up to now and we are in discussion with the Minister of Cabinet
Affairs to make sure that this memo is presented before the Council of
Ministers so that it is presented. This is only a short-term solution,” Mai
explained.
However, the proposal faced criticism from MPs who argued
that the plan was not a sustainable solution to the water crisis.
Hon. Bol Toby Maduot rejected the plan, saying the money for buying tankers should be used to find a lasting solution.
“We don’t want a temporary solution that tomorrow will fall
apart and then people fall back again in the same square one that we were in.
The money that is coming in right now to the Ministry to help the issue of
water should be used for a problem solving that will last for a long time, not
buying a water tanker. This issue of buying water tankers, I don’t think it is
acceptable because it is not a solution,” said Hon. Maduot.
In January 2024, Economic Cluster, under the leadership of
Vice President James Wani Igga, approved the proposal to allocate $9 million
for the purchase of 100 water tankers for water supplies in Juba.
“That $9 million, why don’t you use it, if the government
gives it to you, to do connections in Juba? Because that is not small money.
Why would you buy tankers that will need running costs, repairs and everything,
and yet you can use the money to do connections?” said Hon. Beautrice Abee.
