Water Reform, AKUK-Tirana’s performance contract is signed

The Municipality of Tirana is the first local institution to sign an agreement with the National Water Supply and Sewerage Agency to increase the quality of services to citizens. This agreement, which is signed by mayor Erion Veliaj and AKUK director Arben Skënderi, in the presence of the Minister of Infrastructure and Energy, Damian Gjiknuri, aims to bring further improvement of the UKT’s performance in drinking water supply of citizens, as well as collecting, removing and treating wastewater.

“I am very happy to make Tirana be the first municipality to sign such an agreement. After the success of stabilizing the energy situation in the country and the system’s financial accounts, we are joining forces for another challenge, namely to rehabilitate the water supply and sewerage system. Certainly, the citizens want service, but the service comes with a demand that needs to be paid, “said Veliaj, adding that through the agreement the Municipality of Tirana is committed to increase receipts, modernize the service, increase investment and discipline the offender. “We started with big businesses, sometimes even the biggest abusers, as they have more income, and then we will go to the family level,” he said.

Veliaj, who is also the head of the Municipal Association for Local Autonomy, called on his colleagues in other municipalities to take all necessary measures to discipline drinking water. He stressed that the Municipality of Tirana has taken measures to ensure that its employees are correct with the payment for this common asset, so that this positive example is followed by other citizens. “I thank Minister Gjiknuri, ministry and water and sanitation colleagues, and on behalf of the Association of Municipalities call on the mayors of the municipality to be the first to give the example. We as a municipality have been assured of paying the obligations that our staff pays on their obligations. No staff of the Municipality of Tirana can continue work and does not receive the salary if it has not paid the water bill. I believe this is a way to run by example and then to demand that this example be followed by other citizens, “he stated.

Minister of Infrastructure and Energy Damian Gjiknuri thanked mayor Veliaj that the Municipality of Tirana is the first to embrace this important initiative. He also demanded that other municipalities take measures for the success of water reform. “I thank the mayor, as the first Mayor who joined this initiative so important for the performance contract that we want to turn into a model of behavior for all mayors and water supply and sewerage operators throughout Albania. The municipalities are an integral part of this reform. It can not succeed if the mayors and enterprises themselves do not take that seriously. Water is also national wealth. It is a fortune that costs the state budget. Only with the initiative and full will of all the municipalities of Albania this action will succeed. I want to thank Erion that this time was in avantgarde, “said Gjiknuri.

The Minister said that the increase in receipts, the financial soundness of the entire water supply and sewerage system will bring more investment in this important sector.

Meanwhile, Veliaj assured that the Municipality of Tirana will make maximum use of the deadline for the campaign on formalizing illegal connections and carrying out overdue drinking water payments. left until 28 February, so that all citizens return to the limits of the law. “We are very enthusiastic about how the campaign started. We will use maximum until February 28 to ensure that voluntarily, without using the force of law, this commodity is paid. The strongest message we give to all those citizens who, regardless of economic conditions is to respect this commodity that is a public good, certainly we will do this battle with this minority that is always coming down but that should we go to the end “, stressed the head of the Municipality.

Veliaj stressed that the battle for drinking water is not only an Albanian but a world challenge facing many cities.