National Water Resources Authority Cracks Down on Unauthorized Boreholes in Malawi
Chikwawa, Malawi — The National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) in Malawi has raised concerns over the increasing illegal drilling of water supply systems, such as boreholes, by individuals and institutions without proper authorization, writes Comfort Bulangete.
This issue was discussed during a District Executive Committee (DEC) meeting in Chikwawa, where NWRA aimed to raise awareness about its mandate and functions.
Masozi Kasambala, the Public Relations Officer for NWRA, expressed concern about the unauthorised drilling of boreholes and stressed the importance of following proper procedures.
He stated, "It's unfortunate that some individuals and institutions are cutting corners by drilling boreholes without following procedures. This is against the law, and a proper procedure has to be followed."
Kasambala further emphasised that district councils should refrain from conducting business with drillers and contractors who are not registered or do not possess a licence from the NWRA.
He explained, "The district council should not be giving or being involved in any borehole drilling with companies that are not registered under our Authority. Such malpractice should be avoided to ensure that we have water and boreholes of acceptable standards."
As a measure to address this issue, NWRA has set a deadline of November 24, 2023, for all individuals and institutions with water abstraction points, such as boreholes and shallow wells, to declare them to the Authority. Failure to do so may result in penalties.
Kasambala also called upon the DEC in the district to collaborate with local governing structures, such as ADCs and VDCs, to disseminate the correct information about these regulations.
In response to these concerns, Chikwawa District authorities pledged to work alongside the National Water Resources Authority to ensure that all due processes are followed when individuals or institutions seek to establish water supply systems like boreholes in the district.
Their goal is to ensure that every citizen in the district has equal access to essential services such as water.
Recently, Engineer Dr. Dwight Kambuku, the Chief Executive Officer for NWRA, expressed the organization's worries about the rising number of illegal water supply systems in the country.
He announced that NWRA plans to close all boreholes lacking proper licences by November 24, 2023.
Established in 2013, the National Water Resources Authority's mandate includes collaborating with relevant stakeholders to regulate and manage water resources.
This includes issuing licences to borehole drillers and constructors, among other responsibilities.
This situation is evolving, and further developments on the enforcement of borehole regulations will be reported as they become available.