13 towns and city councils receive grants for maintenance of drainage infrastructure

People living within municipal boundaries can expect better drainage services from their respective municipal councils following the disbursement of grants to 13 towns and city councils for the maintenance of drainage infrastructure.

The grant is being paid quarterly as per submission from municipal councils.

The major activities that will be carried out includes rehabilitation and maintenance of existing drains, construction of new drains, de-silting and realignment of existing drains, installing V drains with rock lining and also structure improvement, capacity increment and concreting.

Other works will include creating riverbank protection and alignment of creeks.

Permanent Secretary for Local Government Joshua Wycliffe while signing the Memorandum of Agreements with the Municipal Councils says the works will aim to ensure the free flow of water during peak discharge period.

Wycliffe says the funding has increased for most of the town councils meaning that there is more work expected from the municipal councils.

The Maintenance of Drainage, Municipal Councils Programme was allocated $3.8 million in the 2018/2019 National budget, this is an increase of 188 percent from the 2017/2018 National budget.