Ministry, stakeholders deliberate on Awash basin prospects, challenges
===========================================

ADDIS ABABA — THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD Newspaper 7 May 2016: A day-long workshop held here yesterday under the theme: ‘Collaborative Water Resource and Environmental Protection on Awash River Basin’ deliberated on prospects and challenges on the Awash River Basin.
Speaking on the occasion Water, Irrigation and Electricity State Minister Kebede Gerba underlined that the government and fellow citizens need to work hand in glove to overcome the existing challenges with respect to supplying quality water while taking precautionary measures to protect the environment.
He said that as water is life and it can be easily contaminated, proper utilization of this natural resource by industries and the public at large must be seen as a matter of survival.
Noting that it is one of the twelve river basins in Ethiopia, Kebede said Awash basin is the most highly utilized one and thus, it’s susceptible to various water-related conflict and pollution.
Hence, the State Minister said much is expected from the participants of the workshop in generating new ideas that would be helpful in devising the best water utilization mechanism.
He noted that without ensuring water safety and quality in water resources protection, equitable and sustainable development is unthinkable.
At the event, Awash Basin Authority General Manager Getachew Gizaw noted that such workshop is being held for the first time in the presence of all stakeholders of Awash River Basin. The most common driving factors behind having several polluted sub-basin rivers of Awash have been vividly presented by the experts.
All the points raised during the workshop would have constructive role in further strengthening the water sector through collaboration, management and protection in Ethiopia in particular and in the horn region in general, he noted.
At the workshop, Holland-based firm, Vitens-Evides International, presented the best practices of its country’s water resources utilization.
BY DANIEL BEYENE