Photo By Sgt. Eddie Reyes | FORWARD OPERATING BASE KALSU, Iraq - Soldiers from Company C, 448th Civil Affairs...... read more read more
Pfc. Edgar Reyes
2nd BCT PAO, 4th Inf. Div.
FOB KALSU, Iraq - Soldiers from Company D, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, signed an agreement with a local contractor March 30 to begin construction of a water treatment facility in Diyara, a small Sunni town in the north Babil province.
The agreement is the first major infrastructure improvement project in Diyara since Coalition Forces assumed responsibility for the area three months ago.
The town council, along with Iraqi Security Forces, identified the need for a better water system.
The town's current system consists of canals only, with no running water for the homes. The water treatment facility will purify the water from the canals and disperse it to the local homes.
A local contractor from Diyara won the contract for the project in a competitive bidding process, which included contractors from all over the Babil province.
One of the clauses in the agreement states that the local contractor must hire people from the town, or those who will benefit from the project, to perform the labor.
"It is best to do it that way because the monies and jobs are more likely to go to the town itself," said Capt. Ben Simms, commander, Co. D, 2-8 Inf. "The local contractor will also have a vested interest in the project, compared to someone who is resides outside the area."
Another important clause in the agreement is that it places the responsibility on the people of the town to get the project completed. "The agreement makes the units succeeding 2nd Bn., 8th Inf. Div. responsible for keeping their eye on the project, but because the project has already been funded, the responsibility ultimately lies on the people of the town to ensure it gets complete," said Simms.
Among the key players in making the project a reality are the Soldiers of Company C, 448th Civil Affairs Battalion, who provided their expertise in infrastructure projects to lay the groundwork and provide the knowledge and direction that the area contractors needed.
"We are here to make sure a good job is done and also to give expertise to the contractors," said Maj. Andrew Hoffman, Co. C, 448th CA Bn., who will help oversee the project and make sure that everything is up to standard.
A project of this magnitude would not have been possible due to the security situation in the town. "The 2nd Battalion, 4th Brigade, 8th Iraqi Army Division, worked closely with the people of Diyara to eliminate terrorist activities providing a secure, stable environment for the town," said Hoffman.
| Date Taken: | 04.07.2006 |
| Date Posted: | 04.07.2006 10:08 |
| Story ID: | 5985 |
| Location: | ISKANDARIYAH, IQ |
| Web Views: | 237 |
| Downloads: | 109 |
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