The Commissions, Statutory Authorities and State Enterprises Committee of Parliament has thrown in its support for the country’s water boards to be bailed out by Treasury from their excess debt.

The development follows growing concerns by most water boards who are working on loan authorisation to be approved by Parliament.

Speaking to Yoneco FM after having roundtable discussions with all the country’s water boards, the Committee’s Chairperson Isaac Kaneka said the only option to rescue the boards from financial crisis is bailout.

“What we have to do here is just to mediate, as a committee we just need move in and assist them getting their money,” said Kaneka.

“Each board is bringing Bill to bailout themselves, so once they get the Committee sensitised, when the Bill is coming to Parliament, yes we have to support those Bills because all those Bills they are looking for money.”

The Committee has also bemoaned government failure to settle down all bills it has with the water boards which Kaneka said is affecting their operations.

He said: “All the water boards they seem to have common problems, at least Northern Region Water Board (NRWB) is 94 percent of the population, while some of these water boards is less than 50 percent.”

“The main challenge as of now financially all them they are lamenting that they are being owed money be government and it’s taking time for government to clear the bills as a result it’s crippling their operations.”

Recently, Blantyre Water Board (BWB) sounded a plea that it is need of K21 billion bailout from government to settle down electricity bills which it has with Escom.