1.
GV EXT. PAN Village PAN TO Lakeside
0.16

2.
GV Mechanical scoop excavating
0.22

3.
GV Local people working manually
0.27

4.
GV Excavator & manual workers (3 shots)
0.53

5.
GV & LV Villagers fishing around barrage (2 shots)
1.01

6.
GV Pipes & pumping house
1.12

7.
GV Children swimming around pipeline equipment
1.17

8.
GV Children & villagers fishing in lagoon
1.23



Initials ESP/0208 ESP/0239



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: The once swampy and unwholesome wastes of the lagoon near Lome, capital of Togo, and now be used for swimming and fishing -- thanks to the determination of the Togolese government and the technical expertise of a Dutch firm. The main instrument of this success has been a giant dredging machine which has cleared the surface of the lagoon. It has also dragged large quantities of mud from the side of the lagoon, and this mud has in turn been used for surrounding with dykes, and thus reclaiming, previously unusable land.

Such a successful project is very significant for an area whose health and progress has always been greatly affected by its swampy surrounding. Soon the economic advantages of improved water-supply and land reclamation will become apparent in a new building programme and improved communications.

SYNOPSIS: The inhabitants of the towns on the edge of the Lome lagoon have always suffered because of their swampy environment. Whenever the waters rose they had to abandon their homes, which then became convenient breeding places for mosquitos.

But now this situation has changed dramatically. The government entrusted the cleansing of the lake to the Dutch firm. Bos on Kalis, and to local workers. With the aid of an enormous scoop dredger they jointly completed the difficult task of clearing the surface of thick parasitical vegetation. This cleansed the stagnant waters and rid them of mosquitos which had always spread disease among the neighbouring inhabitants.

The people now fish in the cleansed waters where previously nothing had flourished except disease. Such additional sources of food are welcome at a time when rapid economic expansion is at hand.

The dredging machine also stirred up mud at the side of the lagoon but this was pumped away along pipes. It was then used to build dykes, and so far some 230 acres have been reclaimed.

Thus the people of Lome, Doulassame, D'Ahanoukope, Gnekeponoe and Tokoin can live and work without fear of disease.