Yaw Barimah, Minister of Works and Housing on Wednesday said the project for the extension of water transmission pipelines from Weija to Kasoa would commence before the end of the year.

He said since Parliament recently approved a loan for the contract for the distribution of pipeline improvement in the Western Accra area among others and with the completion of the Weija Rehabilitation and Expansion project, the problem of insufficiency of water has been removed.

Barimah said this in answer to a question asked by Mr Sampson Atakora, NDC-Ejura Sekyedumasi on behalf of Mr Ernest Attuquaye Armah, NDC-Ga South as to what plans the ministry has to ensure the supply of pipe-borne water to the villages of Joma, Afuamy, Ngleshie Amanfro whose lands have been lost to the Weija Dam.

The Minister said some of the communities in the past, enjoyed pipe-borne water but the problem has been that of insufficiency of water, extension of transmission, rehabilitation, expansion and extension of pipelines to the other communities but this has now been removed because Weija now has an increased production capacity.

Barimah said funding for extensions to communities beyond Kasoa would be provided under the 2003 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and it was expected that he project would be completed in the same year.

Armah asked the Minister what plans the Ministry has to desilt all rivers that feed reservoirs and dams at major water supply stations. Barimah said it was neither feasible nor practicable to desilt all rivers and dams, explaining that it was rather dams and reservoirs that are dredged when their storage capacities have been significantly reduced.

Isaac Nyame Ofori, NDC-Sefwi Wiawso asked what the ministry was doing to discourage people from farming along river banks and the Minister said a Water Resources Commission has been set up to check and monitor all activities but it behoved on the communities to lend their support.

Enoch Teye Mensah, NDC- Ningo/Prampram asked what steps were been put in place to monitor activities along the Weija Dam area and the Minister said a committee has been set up to demolish structures along the banks of the dam since encroachment activities has become very serious.