Environmental and Social Impact Assessment - Gibe III

Gibe III – Environmental and Social Impact Assessment 300 ENV R CS 002 C - A9003099
5.3.10 Water Supply
The urban and rural water supply coverage of Kindo Koyisha, Gena Bossa, Loma, Soro, Omo Sheleko,
Boloso Soro and Kacha Birra weredas are on the lower side and therefore significant number of population
of the weredas use unsafe water for drinking (see Table 5.42). As of 2006, only 61.1% of the rural and 29.7%
of the urban population of the project area had an adequate and safe water supply. This figure ranges from
2.9% in Gena Bossa wereda to 65.2% in Kindo-Koyisha wereda. Most of the available existing water supply
schemes have quality problems. As a result, many people who use unclean sources suffer from water borne
diseases as it is impossible to have a clean and sanitary environment without adequate water.
Table 5.42: Water Supply Coverage of the Affected Weredas (in %)
Water supply
Coverage
Kindo
Koyisha
Gena
Bossa
Loma Soro
Omo
Sheleko
Boloso
Soro
Kacha
Birra
Yem
Omo
Nada
Urban 65.0 5.0 23.6 86.0 2.0 35.0 75.0 - 67.9
Rural 65.2 2.9 3.6 27.3 18.0 34.0 27.8 - 5.7
Wereda level 65.2 2.9 3.9 30.8 17.3 34.0 33.4 23.8 7.2
5.3.11 Other Social Service and Infrastructures
The existing infrastructure that are located in the future reservoir area were investigated and these include:
administrative and cooperative office, schools, health institutions, local and regional markets, water supply
schemes, electric lines, public roads and bridges, important footpath connections, etc.
The existing infrastructures were first identified on the 1:50,000 scale topographic map and followed by field
investigation. Visits were made to the project area and discussions held with key informants to find the
presence of social services.
The only access road that serves the Dawro, Wolayita and the other communities in the area is the Chida –
Sodo road. This road connects Wereda capitals with the zonal and Regional capitals and serves a number of
villages and is the only road access to serve the community to get agricultural inputs and to take their
products to the market. However, to reach to most kebeles of the weredas people use horse and mule back or
foot. The problem of access road within the project area has contributed for the low standard of living.
Based on the information obtained during the field investigation and discussions held with key informants,
no other social service facilities like public buildings and cooperative office, schools, health institutions,
local and regional markets, water supply schemes and electric lines are located within the proposed Gibe III
reservoir area.
On the Western side of the Omo, no wereda towns have access to electricity. However, in rural towns very
few individuals use generators for personal and business activities.
5.3.12 Tourism
The Omo Valley is considered to be an important tourist site. The tourist attraction sites include the Omoriver
system with its rich national parks in the lower part of the Omo river. Omo Gorge is used for river
rafting on a stretch of about 500 km.
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