The Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, inaugurated on Saturday work to strengthen access to drinking water in the commune of Kolda, as part of the National Program of 39,000 social connections. Among these connections, 5,000 are reserved for the Fouladou region, marked by disparities in equitable access to water.
Social connection is an initiative aimed at facilitating the connection of disadvantaged households, either through tariff measures (credits or subsidies) or non-tariff measures (simplification of administrative procedures). The Bouna Kane district, experiencing connection difficulties, hosted the official launch ceremony.
The minister also visited the Illèle bridge on the Casamance River, where the populations expressed their wish to see the river revitalized or dredged. He then inspected the water treatment station, where work is taking place to drill two boreholes, build two water towers, and lay 68 kilometers of pipes.
Cheikh Tidiane Dièye specified that these infrastructures will aim to resolve the insufficient water production thanks to drilling on a fresh water table. At the same time, the treatment plant will be rehabilitated and its capacity increased to reduce iron and chloride levels in the water, in line with recommendations from the World Health Organization.
-The Mayor of Kolda, Mamadou Diao, thanked the State for its efforts and commitment to guaranteeing universal access to drinking water by 2050. He welcomed these initiatives as a significant step towards improving conditions of life of local populations.
These projects illustrate the authorities’ desire to strengthen access to drinking water and improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of Kolda, while supporting national efforts for universal drinking water coverage.
