You must sensitise residents on re channelling rain water as a way of protecting the environment and preventing disasters, Celestin Kabahizi; Governor of Western Province told district authorities.
The governor said this during the meeting he had with Rubavu district authorities in September 2012.
While residents say water collection materials are expensive, the district administration says they started working with Fina Bank project to enable residents access water tanks.
One resident the reporter talked to says the smallest water tank is around Rwf120000, which is too much for most residents as they have other responsibilities at home.
Most of the houses in Gisenyi town have no rain water collection facilities
Jean de Dieu Mfitumukiza, REMA worker in Rubavu district highlights that advocacy is needed so that affordable water tanks are made for residents to collect and store rain water.
The mayor for economic affairs in Rubavu district, Ezechiel Buntu denotes that residents should embrace rain water collection since they use it and help the authorities to protect infrastructures that are destroyed by running water.
It is planned that a program to conserve the environment will start on March 7th 2013 in Rubavu district to fight natural disasters.