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Thursday, March 24, 2016

RC Zelothe irked by water project delay

PETI SIYAME in Sumbawanga
RUKWA Regional Commissioner Mr Zelothe Steven has directed an Indian firm, Technofab Gammon Joint Venture to finalise the construction of mega water project valued over 31m/- within the set time frame. The RC, who is an ex-senior police officer, also ordered the contractor to brief him on the project development with all relevant details.

The water project targets to bolster water supply and sanitation services. Mr Zelothe told the contract officials that he is neither a soft man nor a politician; “ I’ m aware that even the workmanship of the project is very poor yet it does not reflect with the value of the money .......
“ I warn you (contractor ) I’ m not a politician and I’ m not talking politics and worse still I know how to deal with trouble once you fail to deliver properly,” said the RC.
The ambitious project being constructed in Sumbawanga Municipality, Rukwa region is jointly funded by the European Union , the Tanzania government and the German Development Bank – KfW whose construction has been delayed for 12 months as it was scheduled for completion in March, last year.
The Project officially took off on March 18, 2013 .
The project delay vividly irked the RC who yesterday morning made a surprise visit to Technofab Gammon Joint Venture’s site yard at Majengo area here seeking to establish the progress level reached so far.
The RC then cut short the site visit and ordered all of them to his office where he demanded a comprehensive report on the water project. “Let me tell the truth that even if I’m new to this region, I’m well informed of the progress of this ambitious water project ......this project is in an appalling situation and it needs serious treatment to take it back on the track. I don’t want stories about it. As long as the project receives adequate funds it must be completed within a short time,” he directed.
Earlier the Project Resident Engineer Mr Martin told the RC that progress of the project has reached 78 per cent. “We are now trying to push the contractor to finish this project by end of August this year, however, the main problem we are facing is scheduling of material delivery.
Most of the material is already at the site to start installation and what is being waited is fittings, security cables, ball pumps and control of panels. On his part , the Technofab ‘s Technical Advisor, Eng Kulshreshtha told the RC that the immigration department has delayed in issuing them working permits and several of his workers of Asian origins have been arrested hence causing the delaying of the project.
On his welcoming note the Suwasa ‘s Acting Executive Director, Eng Makala told the RC that the project is behind schedule for 12 months due to changing of designs, adding that once completed the project will boost water production to 25 million cubic meters per day from 7.5 milion cubic meters.

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