XALIMANEWS-The Minister of Hydraulics and Sanitation, Cheikh Tidiane Dièye, inaugurated last Saturday the work aimed at strengthening access to drinking water in the commune of Kolda. This initiative is part of the National Program of 39,000 social connections, of which 5,000 are specifically dedicated to the Fouladou region, an area marked by inequalities in access to water.
The social connection program aims to facilitate the connection of disadvantaged households through measures such as subsidies, credits or the simplification of administrative procedures. The official launch ceremony took place in the Bouna Kane district, which faces major challenges in terms of water connection.
During his visit, the minister also visited the Illèle bridge, on the Casamance River, where residents expressed their wish to see the river dredged or revitalized. He then inspected the water treatment plant, where major works are underway, including the drilling of two boreholes, the construction of two water towers and the installation of 68 kilometers of pipes.
-Cheikh Tidiane Dièye explained that these infrastructures will make it possible to compensate for the water production deficit through the exploitation of a fresh water table. The treatment plant, for its part, will be rehabilitated and its capacity increased to reduce the concentrations of iron and chloride in the water, in accordance with World Health Organization standards.
The mayor of Kolda, Mamadou Diao, expressed his gratitude to the State for its commitment to universal access to drinking water by 2050. He hailed these initiatives as major progress in improving living conditions of local populations.
