ASCOM resumes repair of dikes in Jonglei
May 26, 2013 (BOR) – ASCOM, a Moldovan oil and construction firm operating in Jonglei state, has resumed repair of the Bor-Twic East dike after pulling out in mid-May, following the capture of Boma and worsening insecurity in the region.
The South Sudanese army (SPLA) has since recaptured Boma after a brief battle with rebels led by David Yau Yau, who seized control of the town earlier this month.
Speaking to Sudan Tribune by phone on Saturday, the commissioner of Twic East county, Dau Akoi, said that the company “has just began” to repair what he referred to as weak spots along the dike which connects the two counties of Bor from Jale [payam]and Twic East.
“We are happy that our dike is now being repaired by ASCOM. The community was worried about the flood, because the water level was high through the dry season till this year [when the] rains started”, Akoi said.
The Chisinau-based firm is now making repairs to five weak spots identified along the dike, including one where strong water currents swept a person to their death last year in Nyuak [payam].
According to the commissioner, ASCOM will continue to extend the dike, which is currently 27kms long, by a further 7kms downstream to the War-nyol border with Duk county.
The height of the dike is expected to be increased by 1.8 metres from Jale to Warnyol to prevent overflowing, although the commissioner failed to mention the thickness.
He said farmers in the county had proceeded with crop plantings as they no longer feared any flooding this year.
“People are now cultivating, some have planted their crops and others did not plant yet”, he said, adding that unpredictable rain patterns had made some people more reluctant to plant.
Maar and Paliau in the south of Twic East had received little rainfall, forcing residents to hold off on planting crops, while northern payams had received average rainfalls and were able to plant earlier in May.
According to the commissioner, the dike had been deliberately broken in some sections by those who did not have enough water to get through the dry season, describing the actions as “dangerous to the county”.
“The people should buy small generators to pump water over the dike during the dry season instead of breaking it”, he said, urging Twic East professionals working in other parts of South Sudan and abroad to assist remaining residents to buy the necessary machinery.
Ascom Group is the largest oil and gas company in Moldova, with commercial operations in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and South Sudan. It signed a production-sharing agreemen with the latter following the 2005 peace accord, ending a decades-long conflict with neighbouring Sudan.
(ST)