–Villagers Struggles Pond Water With Animals
–Call For Govt urgent Intervention
By Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki
Experience of Water scarcity may not be strange in Ndiechi,a village in Igbeagu autonomous community, Izzi Local Government Area of Ebonyi state since villagers lamented that out of the three hand pump boreholes situated in different parts of the area, that one of them was functional until recently, when it also broke down.
Our reporter who visited different parts of the community observed that most of the villagers have resorted to drinking pond water, from where they struggle with livestocks in a bit to secure few gallons for use as many pounds have gone dry.
Speaking with one of the villagers who gave his name as Mr Mbam Nwigbakpor, he lamented that water scarcity has forced them to start drinking in the same pond with animals since villagers have no other alternative to source drinkable water, adding that the area are prone to drastic water scarcity every year which through Community effort dug pond water.
He said that the experience was mild until one of the three functional boreholes broke down, leaving the pond as the only source of water.
He called for urgent government intervention to remedy the situation to avoid spread of diseases as animals now drink from same pond.
The traditional ruler of the Community,His Royal Highness Eze Michael Ogbonnaya Ukwa while narrating their odeals said the community has suffered alot because of scarcity of water, noting that most of the boreholes in the community are no longer functional which has forced the whole village to depend on dirty pond water to survive from where animals also drink.
The royal father lamented that school children are also faced with the ugly situation, stating that they now find it difficult sourcing bathing water before school.
The traditional ruler who commended the state Governor for the overall development in the state appealed to governor David Umahi to come to their rescue to avoid break of disease arises from the unhygienic water.
A stakeholder in the area and a Proprietor of Noble Secondary school,Mr.Isaac Nwuguru noted that as a result of scarcity of water occasioned by harmattan and dry season has put the entire community into hardship which has made many families vulnerable to diseases.
He added that the early stoppage of raining season has contributed to the drastic water scarcity and called on Ebonyi State Government and well meaning Nigerians to come to their aid.
At Oferekpe 1 of same community,a Herder, Mr. Omoke Francis told us that since the community pond dried up that the villagers now traveled to far away Ndiechi where there’s pond water to source water for their animals as there’s no functional boreholes in the nearest villages.
He frowned on their neglected situation by the government, stating that all the boreholes sited in the area are non functional.
He appealed to non governmental organizations and concern individuals to help provide the people with drinkable water or possibly repair the existing boreholes.
Also, an aged mother, Mrs Mbam Nwofokeuche decried that the pond water despite its muddy nature serves as their drinkable water and vis-a-vis.
She appealed to concerned agencies to come to the rescue of rural dwellers to avert break of disease that may result from consumption of dirty water.
Some villagers among Mr.Ogobuchi Ogbuinya,a primary six pupil and others who narrated their odeals explained that the village would not find it funny when the only source of water been the pond is dried up like that of the neighbouring villages, appealing for urgent Intervention to save people of the area.
It was observed that three boreholes stationed in different parts of the community among one at Ndiechi Community Primary school are not functional as one of them has no hand pumping equipment, and are covered with grasses while others has one fault or the other which made them disfunctional.
Also observed was that most of the well water situated in the area has dried up making the okpuru ofu pond water to be the last resort.