Clearing works on the Naam River have stalled as effects of floods continue to affect transportation of some of equipment from Juba, the Minister of Information in Unity State has said.
Mid-February, the state government announced it received river barges and bulldozers delivered by the National Ministry of Water and Irrigation to implement the project.
After an inspection, the state authorities said the clearing of the river waterways would start by the end of February.
This came four months after the unity government resolved that the Nile be cleared of water weeds as opposed to dredging.
However, when contacted, David Gai Jiejor, the state Minister of Information said the clearing of the Naam River has not begun because some of the equipment is still in Juba.
He also said the government is still working on accessibility of the roads before the rest of the equipment arrives for the activity to start.
“The clearance of the naam river has not kicked off because we have some equipment that is still in Juba. We are waiting for accessibility of the road from Unity and Mayom. We will be able to load them to Unity State,” Minister Gai told Eye Radio.
“The necessary preparations put in place by the state government is making sure that road accessibility is maintained, and services reach the people of Bentiu and part of the Southern Unity state,
“The government has also constructed the road from Bentiu to the southern part of Unity which was flooded for almost three years without access.”
On Monday, March 27, 2023, President Salva Kiir while addressing national lawmakers, directed the Minister of Finance and Planning, Dier Tong to avail funding for the conduct of feasibility studies on the Naam River.