Government Plans to Tackle Water Shortage in South by Drilling Wells

Rimavska Sobota, 9 November (TASR) - The government intends to tackle the problem of drinking water shortages in some villages in Rimavska Sobota district located in the south of Banska Bystrica region by drilling new boreholes and raising the water levels of local watercourses, stated Tourism and Sport Minister Rudolf Huliak (Independent) following Monday's meeting of the crisis management team in Rimavska Sobota, adding that the measures are to be funded by the Environment Ministry. An emergency due to a shortage of drinking water has been declared in 16 villages in Rimavska Sobota district. Residents are reliant on emergency supplies provided by the army. During periods of frost, they have only one tanker with an insulation system capable of transporting water at sub-zero temperatures. However, almost forty villages in the district lack a water supply system, leaving approximately 20,000 residents without direct access to drinking water. According to Huliak, Monday's crisis management team meeting resulted in an agreement on two measures, which are to be implemented without delay. "Firstly, we'll request all information regarding geological surveys, including from the water management company and all relevant institutions that know the condition of our groundwater. In response to this crisis situation, 38 boreholes will be drilled across 38 villages. One borehole in each municipality, which would ensure that the municipality has drinking water," stated Huliak. The second measure is to raise the water levels of local rivers and streams; the work will be carried out by water management experts. "This involves various dykes and embankments. They already know how this can be done so that we can raise the surface water levels, thereby ensuring that water returns to the surface wells they have," added the minister, noting that the crisis situation in Rimavska Sobota district will also be discussed by the relevant parliamentary committee. Environment Ministry State Secretary Stefan Kuffa told the media that the problem of water shortages in the area could also be resolved in the long term by the reconstruction of the waterworks in Hrinova, Klenovec and Malinec. "Quite simply, these water reservoirs need to be interconnected so that, in the event of any disruption, the supply of drinking water to this area remains guaranteed," said Kuffa. The mayors of the affected municipalities also attended the crisis management team meeting in Rimavska Sobota, and several of them welcomed the fact that specific systemic measures are being proposed. am/mcs