Clean water for rural areas - Projects need to be expanded
(Baonghean.vn) -In 2012, Nghe An set a target to implement the National Target Program on Clean Water and Rural Environmental Sanitation in 2012, which is to increase the number of rural people using hygienic water from 64% to 68% by the end of 2012 (an increase of 4%).
In which, the use of clean water according to QCVN 02:2009/BYT increased from 24.4% to 27.2%. The number of rural households with hygienic latrines according to criteria 08/BYT increased from 30.4% to 35% (an increase of 4.6%). The rate of health stations with clean water supply facilities and hygienic latrines increased from 80% to 90%, of which the rate with clean water according to QCVN 02:2009/BYT reached 36%. The rate of schools with clean water supply facilities and hygienic latrines increased from 53.7% to 54.7%, of which the rate with clean water according to QCVN 02:2009/BYT reached 30%...
To achieve that goal, in 2012, it is necessary to mobilize an investment source of about 485 billion VND. Of which, there are expected to be 5 investment "channels": Central budget support 110 billion VND; Provincial budget support 25 billion VND; preferential credit capital (Bank for Social Policies and Women's Union) 120 billion VND; International support capital 15 billion VND; capital contributed by the people about 215 billion VND. With the current tight investment policy, mobilizing capital for the water supply sector in 2012 is very difficult.
People in Nam Thanh commune (Yen Thanh) use clean water thanks to the benefits from the environmental sanitation water supply project funded by DANIDA (Denmark).
Identifying that difficulty, from the beginning of 2012, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Center for Clean Water - Rural Environment coordinated with the districts and related sectors to develop a specific plan and organize synchronous implementation. After the Clean Water - Rural Environment Program Phase III was approved by the Government, our province has reorganized the Program Steering Committee. The authorities and the propaganda team have strengthened communication and education work, introduced water supply and use technologies, introduced water supply and environmental sanitation models. In particular, the poor are facilitated to participate in information activities to raise awareness, supported by loan sources as well as direct support from the community to benefit more.
Timely implement the socialization of rural water supply according to Decision 131/2009/QD-TTg dated November 2, 2009 of the Prime Minister on a number of preferential policies, encouraging investment and managing the exploitation of rural clean water supply works. With the current reality, the Clean Water - VSMTNT Program in the coming time will prioritize capital support for connection works, expanding projects from existing water plants to reduce upstream costs, making the most of the capacity of built water plants.
Focus on investing in large-scale, inter-commune water supply projects, limit fragmented investment to minimize construction land area, easily control water quality, reduce management and operation costs... Continue to use part of the career capital to support the maintenance of some centralized water supply works (for works put into use for less than 3 years).
Review and handle investors who have left projects unfinished and slow to put into use. Consider changing investors of these projects to continue investing in putting the projects into operation. Strengthen training and coaching to improve program implementation skills, skills in organizing, managing, using, operating, and maintaining water supply works, toilets, etc.
In 2012, our province continued to implement the activities of the water supply project funded by the Asian Development Bank - ADB. Coordinated with the Provincial Women's Union to draft a coordination contract and a handbook for disbursing regional revolving credit funds to build family toilets.
Participate in training courses on bidding and disbursement techniques organized by ADB. In the pilot sub-project implemented in Dien Yen commune, Dien Chau district, activities of land acquisition planning, resettlement compensation and site clearance for the construction of a centralized clean water supply project are currently being carried out. In order for the project to be implemented on schedule, in the coming time, the province will promptly support counterpart funds for the ADB project to operate effectively.
Facing many difficulties, in 2012, in addition to the active participation of all levels and functional sectors, rural people also need to actively participate in investment, so that the Clean Water - Rural Environmental Sanitation Program can achieve its set plan.
Hoang Vinh
