The remaining villages are lined up to
get power during implementation of the third phase of REA projects
scheduled to take off soon, Energy and Minerals minister, Prof Sospeter
Muhongo, said.
Before the take-off of the third phase,
stakeholders in the energy sector will review implementation of the
second phase on Saturday and Sunday to assess progress made in the rural
electrification programme.
Prof Muhongo was responding to Special
Seats legislator Mariam Msabaha (Chadema) who wanted to know when
government will complete connecting all villages to the national grid.
He hinted that some of the projects
which fell under REA phase two might not be completed in time because of
financial limitations. He said that last year when REA phase two was
being implemented, the country’s budget was weighed down as there were a
number of activities -- including the general election which demanded
much money.
“REA projects need a lot of money; they
are big projects. We need a big amount of funds from outside the
country,” Prof Muhongo said, adding that he was optimistic all projects
will be realised.
He also warned that any contractor found
to have involved in corrupt practices will be barred from acquiring
tender to carry out rural electrification schemes.
He said this when responding to Sumve
MP, Mr Richard Ndassa (CCM) who maintained that some contractors who
were implementing REA projects in some areas were demanding villagers to
pay 200,000/- per electric pole.
Earlier, the Deputy Energy and Minerals
minister Dr Medard Kalemani said that rural power projects that were
being carried out under REA phase one have been completed by 100 per
cent.
He said implementation of the second
phase was going on well as planned. He was responding to Mr Ndassa who
in his basic question wanted to know how REA projects have been
implemented.
He told the House that the government
allocated 877.3bn/- for the implementation of REA phase two and as of
now about 75 per cent of the fund has already been used
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