Water shortage delays dam project
Apr 11, 2011
THE construction of Kobebe Dam in Rupa sub-county in Moroto district has delayed due to water shortage in the area. Wu Jiangshan, the site engineer, on Friday said lack of water was affecting the construction.
By Olandason Wanyama
THE construction of Kobebe Dam in Rupa sub-county in Moroto district has delayed due to water shortage in the area. Wu Jiangshan, the site engineer, on Friday said lack of water was affecting the construction.
“We have had an unexpected delay due to the drought that started in October last year,†he said.
Jiangshan said their trucks travel over 60km to fetch 40,000 litres of water near the Kenya border everyday.
He also added that lack of casual labourers due to the remoteness of the area had hampered the construction.
However, Jiangshan said the dam would be completed by the end of May, not March, as scheduled.
He added that they had embarked on construction of the spillway that pushes excess water out of the dam.
“The intake tower, earthworks and the dam embankment have been done, excluding finishing,†he said.
One employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were not satisfied with the wages.
Kobebe Dam construction, commissioned by the water ministry in April last year, is the second largest to Arecek in Napak district.
Upon completion, the project will have cost sh6.6b, including over 40km of access road. The dam will be eight metres high, with a water storage capacity of 2.5bn litres.
Being centrally located, it will serve the Matheniko, the Jie and the Turkana in Kenya. It will also be used for irrigation and provide water for livestock and fish farming.
THE construction of Kobebe Dam in Rupa sub-county in Moroto district has delayed due to water shortage in the area. Wu Jiangshan, the site engineer, on Friday said lack of water was affecting the construction.
“We have had an unexpected delay due to the drought that started in October last year,†he said.
Jiangshan said their trucks travel over 60km to fetch 40,000 litres of water near the Kenya border everyday.
He also added that lack of casual labourers due to the remoteness of the area had hampered the construction.
However, Jiangshan said the dam would be completed by the end of May, not March, as scheduled.
He added that they had embarked on construction of the spillway that pushes excess water out of the dam.
“The intake tower, earthworks and the dam embankment have been done, excluding finishing,†he said.
One employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they were not satisfied with the wages.
Kobebe Dam construction, commissioned by the water ministry in April last year, is the second largest to Arecek in Napak district.
Upon completion, the project will have cost sh6.6b, including over 40km of access road. The dam will be eight metres high, with a water storage capacity of 2.5bn litres.
Being centrally located, it will serve the Matheniko, the Jie and the Turkana in Kenya. It will also be used for irrigation and provide water for livestock and fish farming.