BOULSA — The community of Boulsa, along with various local forces, engaged in significant efforts to reinforce the foundation of the Boulsa dam using wild stones on Monday, July 21, 2024. This initiative was part of a broader response to prevent potential isolation of the town due to infrastructure vulnerabilities.
According to Burkina Information Agency, the provincial director in charge of Infrastructure, the reinforcement work involved concrete pouring and stone consolidation to stabilize the dam’s foundation. The collaborative effort saw participation from the provincial defense and security forces (FDS), the contractor responsible for the road construction, and the provincial infrastructure directorate. They focused on repairing and reinforcing the collapsed sections of the dam to ensure the safe passage of heavy vehicles.
The project was essential as the dam’s foundation had shown signs of significant deterioration, posing a risk to the town’s connectivity with major markets. The high commissioner of the province of Namentenga, Adama Conseiga, noted that the collapse of the dam’s foundation could potentially isolate Boulsa, which is situated about 250 meters from the main market area.
Community members actively participated in the reinforcement work, some moving stones to bolster the dam wall, while others mixed and applied concrete. The efforts were described as having taken place in a cooperative atmosphere, with the local populace and officials working together to avert a crisis. “Except in cases of force majeure, the slab will be able to hold until the end of the rainy season,” Mr. Nadinga assured.