ARUSHA, Tanzania, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania on Monday pledged to conduct a special ecological evaluation in Lake Tanganyika, amid media reports that the lake is under serious environmental degradation.
Isaac Kamwerwe, Tanzania's Deputy Minister for Water and Irrigation made the pledge when speaking in the country's capital Dodoma, when he was responding to question by Nkasi North MP, Ally Kessy who argued that for the past two weeks, international media have been reporting of environmental dangers at the lake, which pose risks of fish extinction.
"What is the government doing following such claims by the media on environment degradation activities threats to Lake Tanganyika?" the lawmaker queried, arguing that there are serious threats that call for the government interventions to save the lake and creatures in it.
In his response, the deputy minister said that the government would do all it takes to establish the root cause of the problem that threatens the existence of fish in the world's longest lake and the world's second deepest after Lake Baikal in Siberia.
Kamwerwe noted that the Tanzanian government was aware on the matter and has started working on them, including taking serious measures to avoid any further environmental challenges.
The official said that a detailed report on the assessment would immediately be adopted by the government through the relevant ministry to overcome the situation in the lake which is being shared by Tanzania, Zambia, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Burundi.
He added that the government is set to implement a national-wide specific program of enhancing availability and provision of irrigation water throughout the country by assuring for effective uses of all valleys, rivers, and Lakes.
