The coastal areas of Draleo, Drymades, and Dhërmi will soon have an uninterrupted drinking water supply, thanks to the project being implemented by the National Water and Sewerage Agency. The investment will begin in Tragjas, while the new network being built will make it possible to supply the coastal area with drinking water.
The Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Belinda Balluku, together with the Director of AKUK, Klevis Jahaj, visited the area of Dukat, where the construction of the new water transmission network is underway.
Director Jahaj announced that the project in question covers the current needs of the area and at the same time responds to the development of the area in the coming years. “This is a much-needed investment. We have made the calculations of the hydraulic system in its entirety, not only the current housing units or existing apartments but also those that have been approved and are under development,” said Jahaj.
Deputy Prime Minister Balluku said that this is one of the most important projects that AKUK is developing as it serves one of the main tourist areas. “From Dukat, we will supply water to the area of Palasë, Dhërmi, Gjileka, and Kondraq, the whole part that is considered one of the most important developing areas of tourist centers in the south, which will be further boosted by the Llogara tunnel, mostly due to the infrastructural access it has”, announced Balluku.
The Minister of Infrastructure and Energy also focused on the reforms undertaken by the Albanian government in the water and wastewater sector, where there has been a significant improvement in all indicators, but especially in the service to citizens. Balluku also emphasized that work is being done to reduce technical losses, a problem that has persisted for years in this sector.
“No one argues anymore that the reform is good because the numbers speak, the figures speak, and when the numbers speak and when you have an improvement in the financial conditions of these companies that used to have debts, only creating problems for third parties, starting with OSHEE, with local taxes and everything else, it is indisputable. We refer to the figures, we have improved financial conditions, we have improved services, we have improved the feasibility of investments and, as you said yourself, we have extraordinary coordination regarding projects,” said Balluku.
The construction of the water supply network for the coastal areas, Draleos, Drymades, and Dhërmi is a project spread over two municipalities, those of Vlora and Himara. 2300 inhabitants, 3200 employees working in the area’s hotels and more than 65 thousand tourists will benefit from this investment.