29 Nov 2022

The Gamononyane-Molepolole North South Carrier water connection project is currently progressing well but may still require an extension of time, says project manager Mr Joseph Sihui.

  Speaking at a stakeholder engagement meeting in Molepolole recently, Mr Sihui representing the main contractor, Zhengtai Dan’s Jv Company, said  the project stood at 57 per cent and that the March 6, 2023 deadline was still achievable.

However, Mr Sihui said the project experienced some challenges that might force the contractor to request extension of time.

The challenges included reluctance on the part of some  property owners to give away their land and had since rejected compensation offers, he said adding that l94 land owners had been paid about P10.5 million in compensation for pockets of land along the pipeline route.

According to Mr Sihui, other challenges were unfenced or unidentified properties,  a set-back of at least two weeks due to rains,  vandalism and slow procurement of materials owing to COVID-19.

He vowed that the company would stick to set timeliness to deliver the project and ensure that water shortage in the area was done away with.

Adding his voice to concerns about possible project delays, Water Utilities (WUC) lead engineer, Mr Lopang Seporo pointed out that new activities kept cropping up such as additional designs and building  projects alongside the main project.

 These would require an extension, he said.

Mr Seporo revealed that a sanitation project was in the pipeline and was expected to commence next financial year.

Some stakeholders appreciated the progress update but expressed concern over the possibility of the contractor not meeting the deadline. 

Others were concerned about high water bills and unending water leakages in the village and requested WUC to remedy the situation. ENDS