From Adia Jildo, in South Sudan
The national parliament of South Sudan has summoned four officials to appear before the August house over hikes in prices of water in the city.
The high cost of water is despite the fact that some residents are settled near the water collection points.
The minister of water and irrigation, Central Equatoria State Governor, Juba City Mayor, and Urban Water Corporation are called to appear before the parliament to address surging water prices leaving residents frustrated.
“The parliament decided that the minister of water, the governor of central Equatoria, the mayor of Juba city council and the urban water corporation must appear in the house next week on Monday so that they come to clarify this issue of the water,” Oliver told journalists.
The summon comes after members of parliament raised motions on water prices in the city.
“Some of the water stations are just close to the residential areas of the citizens in the town and yet a barrel is being charged at 6,000 SSP per gram while the distance from the collective point to the residential areas in other places is less than even 100 metres.,” said the parliament spokesperson Oliver Mori Benjamin.
“It is not imaginable but it is happening that taking a distance of about 100 metres a drum of water costs 6,000 pounds.
Water prices have increased in the city from 2,000 South Sudanese Pounds to 5,000- 7,000 South Sudanese pounds depending on the areas and blocks of residents raising alarm in the communities and a need for urgent intervention.
