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Ethiopia will meet MDG potable water goal three years ahead, says minister
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Arbaminch, May 08, 2007 (WIC) - Ethiopia could provide potable water for all citizens three years ahead of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the Ministry of Water Resources disclosed. Speaking at the opening of a symposium at Arbaminch University today, Minister Asfaw Dingamo said potable water and sanitation coverage in both rural and urban parts of the country is expected to reach 100 percent in 2012. Potable water coverage of the country jumped by 8.13 percent this year from the previous one thus reaching 47.5 percent, he said, adding that if the growth continues with same pace it would possible to reach 100 percent three years ahead of the MDGs. To this end, capacity building works are underway and 2,000 water technicians deployed to 200 woredas in the country are rendering technical support, Asfaw said. Half a million hectares of land is being developed through irrigation as per the plan to transform the rain-fed agriculture in the country to irrigation development, the minister further noted. The land that would be cultivated through irrigation in the coming five years would grow to one million thus raising the land cultivated through irrigation to 29 percent, it was pointed out. The construction of the Omo-Ghibe, Tekeze, Tana Beles, Genale Dawa, Halale Wara Bela, Amenti Neshi hydroelectric power generation plants is also underway. Upon completion, they would raise the power generation capacity of the country from 670 mega watt to 4,000 mega watt, the minister added. A draft document for the establishment of Basin Authority and instrumental in enhancing water development works along rivers has been submitted to the House of Peoples Representatives and is expected to be endorsed this budget year, according to Asfaw. These kinds of symposia have pivotal role in seeking solutions to water-related problems and thus ensure food security, Asfaw said. Researchers drawn from ten countries of Europe, Asia, Africa, North America are in attendance of the three-day symposium. |
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