by Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
As the dry season persists – without rainfall, severe water scarcity has resurfaced in some parts of Kaduna State that are currently suffering from pipe-born water, with Ungwan Boro area of Sabon Tasha in Kaduna South and environs being the worst hit.
The situation has been aggravated due to epileptic power supply being experienced in communities across the areas in recent times, heightening the hardship being faced by people, mostly woman and children, due to distances to reach boreholes.
Water vessels such as gallons, buckets, rubber basins, wheel-barrows for conveyance and other sources of water containers and human beings are found on cues along the road across communities visited Tuesday in Kaduna South.
Most communities in the areas also lack pipe-born water supply in their residences, blaming it on road construction, which took place during the last administration’s infrastructural development projects in the state.
Some of the victims of the water scarcity, who spoke to our correspondent, lamented that the well water, which had been the main source of their water supply, have dried up completely.
Sachet water, popularly known as “Pure Water” cost has gone above the reach of some residents with current price of N250 per bag and N25:00 per sachet water, respectively.
Those with boreholes and are willing to assist their neighborhood have restricted supply chain as a result of poor electricity, and cost of pumping the water also tied to high cost of increase in electricity tariff.
All efforts to reach out to the authorities concerned to speak on the issues were truncated due to inability to spot them or respond to clarifications.
A colleague in Sabon Tasha, who confirmed the situation, also said they relied mainly on boreholes. Contacted, the media officer to the Governor of Kaduna State, Muhammed Lawal Shehu, and colleague, Nabila, could not respond, instead the latter called through the former querying the rationale for one journalist working for more than one media house.