Western Equatoria set to focus on constructing Feeder Roads
By Richard Ruati
December 3, 2008 (YAMBIO) – “The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure in Western Equatoria State is set to construct the state’s major feeder roads from counties to counties,” says the ministry’s boss William Ngalamu hours after receiving the already acquired road equipments from Dub Company based in Khartoum.
The brand new road equipments are Loader, roller, excavator, grader and tipper-truck.
Asked to explain on the ailing poor road conditions, he acknowledged that, “the roads conditions in WES are deplorable that is why the state government has decided to purchase the minimal road equipments to construct and maintain the feeder roads within the state and those linking to the neighboring states.”
The minister has vowed to jolt the roads ailing shape.
However, Ngalamu urges that, “WES citizens should not take for guaranteed that, the business of feeder roads construction is the sole responsibility of the state government, [but] local community leaders and their inhabitants should to take leadership in this phenomena,” he added that, state government will continue to maintain the feeder roads, whereas the GOSS will continue to maintain the main truck roads.”
All WES citizens who use the few roads which have been constructed and repaired over the last three years will no doubt appreciate government’s efforts in this regard.
Understandably, a senior official of roads in the ministry says that, “Improved state’s rural road infrastructure linking rural population to commercial centres (markets) and access to social services such as schools, health and administrative units is a major focus for him and his staff.”
“Routine maintenance, periodic maintenance and rehabilitation on selected prioritized feeder road links in the state are to be done.”
The Road Maintenance and Development Project supports the state’s Assistance Strategy objective to reduce poverty in rural areas, by improving rural access, and, prompting higher agricultural output, as well as non-farm income, in remote hill areas of the state.
In related development, “the electrical power in Yambio is almost to complete and waiting for Sabina Company to fix electrical poles by early next year,” said Ngalamu
However, the minister expressed that, “citizens will pay some electricity fees on monthly basis for the sustainability of the project.”
The electrification of Yambio town the WES’s political and economic capital will usher in a new beacon of hope in the mindset of the common men and women of the state.
WES has had no electricity services since early 1980s.
(ST)