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MeneameVenezuela's political opposition is concerned about the economic effects of water rationing in the country and is also skeptical about government plans to invest 2.9bn bolívares (US$1.4bn) in water next year.
Water rationing in capital Caracas will affect the country's overall economic performance, a member of opposition party Acción Democrática (AD) told BNamericas.
Public water utility Hidrocapital published a water rationing schedule for the city on November 2, in which neighborhoods that currently receive 24h/day services will now have 48h/week without any water.
"The measure is completely counterproductive, as it will not only lead to general panic but will also affect the economy. Restaurants, clubs and all sorts of services will be forced to curtail activities," said the AD member, who requested anonymity.
"The city really does not need this kind of rationing. The government has had many years to implement campaigns to raise awareness about water use, but instead they are supplying free water services to a large segment of the population that does not understand the costs involved," the official said.
Given that rationing will also apply to hospitals, the government will deliver water by truck to health facilities on the days they are affected.
Moreover, the population has been warned not to store water. Hidrocapital president Alejandro Hitcher announced that anyone found to be using more water than usual will have their services cut off completely.
"They are monitoring the amount of water that we use on a daily basis and, if this increases, they will shut down our service. In other words, they are not letting us store any water, because storing would boost consumption on the days previous to the weekly cuts," the AD member added.
According to Hidrocapital reports, rationing could last until May of next year.
INVESTMENT
Venezuela's environment ministry (Minamb) is asking for a budget of up to 2.9bn bolívares to cover strategic projects in 2010, especially those related to potable water and sanitation services, Hidrocapital said in a release.
Among the projects to be included in the investment program are the modernization and rehabilitation of potable water and sanitation networks (60mn bolívares); the construction of potable water networks for rural and small communities (5.9mn bolívares); and the installation of water and sanitation networks in La Guajira in Zulia state (15.6mn bolívares).
In addition, over 13.5mn bolívares would be invested in other potable water and sanitation projects in urban and rural areas; over 668mn bolívares would be allocated for water projects in Lara state; and 3mn bolívares would be invested in reservoir maintenance.
Over 123mn bolívares would be assigned to the potable water and sanitation rationing program for projects to be carried out by state-owned waterworks holding company Hidroven; 15mn would be spent in flood control projects; and 3mn would cover sewage expansion works.
Minamb is also looking to invest 3.1mn bolívares in a sustainable water management program to be carried out in the Caroní river basin and 10.2mn bolívares for the national environmental conservation and management plan.
The ministry would also assign 314mn to strengthen the country's solid waste management.
The opposition doubts the investment will be carried out as detailed by Hidrocapital, the AD member said, adding that Chávez's government has had more than a decade to improve water infrastructure and barely any progress has been made.
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