By Sami Zaptia.
Tripoli, 20 October:
Awad Barasi, the Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, announced on his Facebook page that “thanks to . . .[restrict]the grace of Allah and the efforts of the electricity warriors the electricity supply has been reconnected to the Great Man-Made River project in the Hasauna Mountains area” – located some 500 kilometers south of Tripoli.
Barasi went on to reassure that “efforts are underway to reactivate the well pumps by the Great Man-Made River Management and Implementation Authority (GMRA)’” and that water should be back within 48 hours.
This post by Barasi contradicts what GMRA had said in an official statement on Thursday.
In that statement GMRA had stated that even if the electric power were reconnected to the pumps immediately, the length and size of the water pipes running from the south to the water reservoirs near Sidi Sayah, and the size of the water reservoirs, would mean that it would take a minimum of five days before water returned to Tripoli.
The loss of electric supply to the water wells in the Hasauna Mountains area was as a result of damage caused to the power lines near the Bani Walid area.
The Libya Herald has been unable to get any further clarification from official authorities today, Saturday, on account of it being a public holiday.
However, members of the public have been saying they are increasingly worried by the idea that they will spend the Eid al-Adha (feast of sacrifice) holidays, beginning on Friday 26th October, without water.
Meanwhile, Tripoli Local Council has pointed out that the Public Water Company has issued an emergency number (021-3608870) for anyone who needs water to be supplied by the company.
The Public Water Company has on its part reminded the general public to use water with care and consideration until normal water supplies are restored to the city of Tripoli. [/restrict]
