Nyala, February 2 (Darfur24)
The South Darfur State Water Corporation on Sunday announced a plan to address the recurring drinking water shortages in Nyala, the state capital.
Nyala experiences a severe water crisis every year during the summer months, with water prices rising sharply and placing additional pressure on residents.
The Director of the State Water Corporation, Issam al-Din Hasabo, said in a press statement that the plan aims to increase water supply coverage from the current 40 percent to 70 percent by 2026. He explained that this will be achieved by rehabilitating the main water station and connecting it to several subsidiary stations.
Hasabo revealed that the corporation has begun drilling four new wells in the Barli Valley, with support from an international organization operating in South Darfur State, in addition to four wells that are already operational.
He added that additional wells in the Mose suburb, south of Nyala, will be connected to the main station, noting that work on the Karari water station has reached 60 percent completion following the installation of a centrifugal pump.
According to Hasabo, maintenance work is currently underway at the Tom Tobay, Balil, and Kandwa water stations, with support from humanitarian organizations, and the stations are expected to resume operations soon.
He further disclosed a new plan to drill additional wells in rural areas and reduce reliance on fuel by 40 percent through the expansion of solar energy. He said solar panels have already been installed in three localities, alongside plans to establish one new water station per month in different localities.
It is worth noting that ongoing fighting in Nyala disrupted several wells in the Barli Valley and significantly increased operational costs due to the difficulty of importing spare parts and lubricants, according to employees of the Water Corporation.