The
Cross River Basin Development Authority said on Tuesday that protracted
communal crisis stalled the construction of Nkari Dam, a Federal Government
project.
The
General Manager of the Authority, Mr Mfon Essien, said this in an interview
with the News Agency of Nigeria in Uyo on Tuesday.
“I
know that many people have died because of the communal crisis in Nkari clan
over the dam project, including the former contractor.
“You
can confirm this from the Federal Ministry of Water Resources; I know that two
years ago, we were still grappling with the compensation issue.
“It
is not true that the project was abandoned in 2004; the community had been
troublesome and turbulent,” Essien said.
In
a separate interview, a community leader, Chief Edet Etim, alleged that the
Federal Ministry of Water Resources had abandoned the project since 2004.
NAN
reports that the dam, which covers an estimated land mass of 37 hectares, was
meant to provide water for irrigation and for domestic use.
The
project was also envisaged to help check flood as well as provide facilities
for fishing.
Meanwhile,
construction on another dam project facilitated by Sen.Ita Enang, representing
Akwa Ibom North East, is still ongoing.
NAN
learnt that the contract was awarded in 2010 at the cost of N996 million by the
Federal Ministry of Water Resources.
The
project, known as the Itu/Ibiono Dam Project, was designed to provide potable
water and boost agricultural production in the state.
The
project being handled by AMBIS Engineering Services, would store about two
million cubic litres of water at completion.
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