February 15, (THEWILL) – The Kano State Government has said that it will regulate the drilling of boreholes to check the abuse of underground water across the state.
The government said it would no longer condone the current situation where people drill boreholes indiscriminately in their houses and other places, thus tampering with the underground water.
The State Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Umar Haruna Doguwa, announced the government’s decision while unveiling 10 new water pumps at the Tamburawa Water Treatment Plant on Saturday.
“You will notice in our towns now that open wells have dried up because the boreholes being drilled around have diverted the underground water. We will not allow this to continue.
“And a situation where somebody will build many houses in one place and drill a borehole for each of the houses is madness, absolute madness, and we are not going to condone that”, Doguwa warned.
He stated that such practices disrupt the state’s underground water supply and lead to excessive usage. “We will definitely monitor and regulate it”, he affirmed.
He said the underground water belongs to the State Government, which has the mandate to regulate and monitor its use.
“It is our water, we have to know what you are using, you have to pay us; and we have to monitor it strictly”, the commissioner said.
He also warned industries, commercial centres and individuals who are abusing treated water, particularly those diverting it for farming activities, to desist from such, or face the wrath of the government.
“People are yearning for drinking water, yet some individuals illegally channel treated water to their farms. We are investigating those responsible, and if necessary, we will seize lands found engaging in such practices.”
He explained that the 10 high-capacity Water Pumps unveiled at the ceremony would be installed at the Tamburawa and Challawa Water Treatment Plants to boost water supply in the state.
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
