LE 70M allocated for 'urgent development needs' in governorates: Min.

CAIRO - 8 May 2019: Minister of Local Development Mahmoud Shaarawy announced the allocation of LE 70 million ($4.08 million) from the Ministry's investment plan's budget to support the urgent development needs in 22 governorates, including water and sanitation projects.

The addressed governorates include Cairo, Giza, Qalyubia, Alexandria, Menofia, Matrouh, Beheira, Gharbia, Kafr El-Sheikh, Damietta, Dakahlia, South Sinai, Port Said, Ismailia, Sharqia, Beni Suef, Fayoum, and Aswan.

The money allocated will be used in paving some local roads, water and sanitation projects, purchasing cleaning equipment, upgrading the efficiency of local units and street light, and extending electricity networks in new areas and areas that do not enjoy these facilities, Shaarawy said.

Shaarawy also affirmed his ministry's keenness to improve the level of all services provided to citizens in various governorates and to continuously communicate with the governors to address all the problems and challenges facing citizens.

In April, Minister of Planning Hala el Saeed said that the total investments allocated to drinking water and sanitation projects in the 2019/2020 fiscal year are estimated at LE 18 billion.

The minister’s remarks came after a delegation from the ministry and the National Investment Bank made a two-day tour in the three Suez Canal governorates of Suez, Port Said and Ismailia to inspect drinking water and sanitation projects, the ministry said in a statement Friday.

The investments include about LE 4.6 billion for drinking water projects with the aim of providing full access to potable water, Saeed said, adding that a sum of LE13.4 billion will be allocated to sanitation projects, MENA reported.