Water tank dealers are making merry as households despair over the severe water crisis on the island. Companies dealing in the sale of water tanks have confirmed that sales have risen in recent months, reflecting a growing demand due to the critical situation.
To recall, minister of Energy Rashid Beebeejaun announced on Thursday that the Central Water Authority (CWA) is considering rationing water once every two days in Plaine Wilhems by June-end.
He said that the drastic cuts are essential or else Mare aux Vacoas, the largest reservoir, will dry up by November 2011.
The silver lining is that the ministry has announced a grant of Rs 3,000 to families for the purchase of a water tank.
Nazir Beegun, of Beegun Furniture and Sanitary Ware in Port Louis, said that he used to sell between six to eight water tanks a month till recently.
“But we sold around 30 tanks in just the first two weeks of April,” he added.
He said that this trend was not limited to towns alone. “There is a demand for water tanks. People from areas as far as Surinam are coming to Port Louis to buy tanks,” said Beegun.
The water crisis has also sparked an increase in the sale of plastic utensils such as buckets and tubs.
Their prices have also skyrocketed and have already gone up by more than 50 per cent over one year.