Millions for boreholes in //Kharas
More than 6 000 households in the region currently rely on the drought relief food programme.
The //Kharas regional council has received N$23 million from the Office of the Prime Minister to improve water supply infrastructure.
In total, 74 locations for boreholes to be installed, rehabilitated or cleared and drilled have been identified, Beatus Kasete, the chief regional officer of //Kharas, said. Of these, four have already been completed.
Speaking at opening of the //Kharas regional council in Keetmanshoop on Tuesday, Kasete said boreholes in the region are drying up on a regular basis and the council cannot keep up with the demand for water provision.
“The fleet of the rural water supply division is past its lifetime and the subject of regular breakdowns. This, compounded with the vastness of the region, makes maintenance of water points a big challenge,” he said.
According to Kasete, 13 contractors are currently on site and an additional 10 water points are expected to be completed in the next two weeks. Forty more water points should be completed by the end of February.
Drought
The region is still in the deadly grip of severe drought since significant rain has not been recorded in the region, Kasete said. There are areas that have persistently received below average rainfall for the past seven years.
“With the last rainy season being the worst, if rain does not fall in the next two weeks, it will be a calamity,” he added.
Kasete said 250 farmers benefited from the free animal fodder from the government by the end of December 2019.
The council requested for an increase to 100 more farmers due to the fact that no rain was received and more farmers have became vulnerable in the meantime.
“Some regions indicated that they no longer need the free fodder as they received rain. As a result we requested for this fodder to be channelled to our region,” said Kasete.
A total of 6 287 households in the region are benefiting from the drought relief food programme. - Nampa
In total, 74 locations for boreholes to be installed, rehabilitated or cleared and drilled have been identified, Beatus Kasete, the chief regional officer of //Kharas, said. Of these, four have already been completed.
Speaking at opening of the //Kharas regional council in Keetmanshoop on Tuesday, Kasete said boreholes in the region are drying up on a regular basis and the council cannot keep up with the demand for water provision.
“The fleet of the rural water supply division is past its lifetime and the subject of regular breakdowns. This, compounded with the vastness of the region, makes maintenance of water points a big challenge,” he said.
According to Kasete, 13 contractors are currently on site and an additional 10 water points are expected to be completed in the next two weeks. Forty more water points should be completed by the end of February.
Drought
The region is still in the deadly grip of severe drought since significant rain has not been recorded in the region, Kasete said. There are areas that have persistently received below average rainfall for the past seven years.
“With the last rainy season being the worst, if rain does not fall in the next two weeks, it will be a calamity,” he added.
Kasete said 250 farmers benefited from the free animal fodder from the government by the end of December 2019.
The council requested for an increase to 100 more farmers due to the fact that no rain was received and more farmers have became vulnerable in the meantime.
“Some regions indicated that they no longer need the free fodder as they received rain. As a result we requested for this fodder to be channelled to our region,” said Kasete.
A total of 6 287 households in the region are benefiting from the drought relief food programme. - Nampa
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