Nearly half of Gia Lai waterworks ineffective

GIA LAI — The People’s Council of the Central Highlands Province of Gia Lai have found 126 out of 313 water supply works in the province are operating ineffectively or are even unused.

The works were damaged, degraded or unused, causing waste of over VNĐ126 billion (US$5.5 million) in total as the province spent nearly VNĐ260 billion ($11.27 million) from its budget to build more than 300 works to supply water to rural areas since 2001.

The council found that some works were used for only few months.

Nguyễn Chúc, vice head of the province’s Irrigation and Aquaculture Department, said that the works were not maintained properly.

In some cases, small damage was not fixed in a timely manner, so the problem worsened until it was extremely difficult to repair.

The provincial People’s Council asked the People’s Committee to identify the responsibilities of relevant agencies and individuals in managing and operating such work. — VNS