Saiks,

You wanted to know what the government is doing or going to do to alleviate the problem of access to clean drinking water for our rural folks. In attempting to answer this, I will refer to the SOS for Finance's 2002 budget speech and the President's speech on the occasion of the State Opening of the National Assembly 2002.

The President in addressing the newly elected and nominated members of the National Assembly had this to say regarding government's efforts in trying to provide safe drinking water for our rural folks:

"Interventions in the water resource sub-sector include the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project jointly funded by the UNCDF, UNDP and the Government of The Gambia. It has so far installed 10 solar-powered reticulation systems and completed 180 wells. Savings made in the implementation of this project will now provide 5 more reticulation systems. The project is also in the process of providing a water sector strategy for the rational exploitation and management of the national ground water resources, bearing in mind the demand created by the fast growing peri-urban settlements.

Another significant intervention in the sub-sector is the Village Water Programme, funded by European Development Fund. It intends to install 30 solar-powered water supply systems in areas with relatively low densities, mainly in the north of the North Bank, Upper River and Western Divisions. Similarly, 25 of the existing solar-powered systems that were installed in previous projects will be upgraded. All these measures are geared towards attaining long-term sustainability of the water supply system.

To further strengthen the achievements realized in previous projects, the Basic Services Programme has been designed to increase access to potable water and sanitary facilities in 100 lower basic schools and early child facilities in selected geographical areas where they are most lacking. There will also be an awareness campaign to maintain personal hygiene practices and general environmental sanitation to promote behavioural change in schools.

Underpinning the development of the sub-sector is the revision of the National Water Resources Council Act (1979), now at an advanced stage, which will soon be ready for Cabinet’s consideration and submission to this august National Assembly for enactment."

From Famara Jatta's budget speech, we learn the following:

• The Department of Water Resources continues to observe and provide early warning information on extreme Meteorological and Hydrological events, assess the Climate System to enhance management of our national water resources, to protect the environment and sensitise the general public on hygienic practices.

• The third phase of the Saudi Sahel Programme (SSP III), which started in October of 2000 has made substantial progress in the provision of 90 water points for 40, 000 people over a 22 months period.

• Since December 1999, a new phase of the EDF Village Water Supply (EDF-VWS) Project is being implemented as sub-component of the EDF financed SDRD programme. By the end of the programme in 2003, the project intends to complete thirty new solar powered village water supply systems and upgrade some twenty to twenty-five existing ones. The initial budget of the project is 3.8 million Euro equivalent to about fifty million dalasis.

• The project will also be supported by a second phase of the Regional Solar Programme (RSPII), also funded by the EDF, with a provisional budget allocation to the Gambia of 1.9 million Euro or about twenty-five million Dalasis. Also, concrete-lined wells fitted with hand pumps are constructed through Divisional EDF Programme under the SDRD; these are concentrated in the North Bank, Western and Upper River Division with a targeted 60,000 rural inhabitants to benefit.

Have a good day, Gassa.