Neckartal gets lion's share of water budget
About 46.4% of the N$2.137 billion agriculture budget is earmarked for the development of the water sector and for water supply to rural communities in communal areas.
This amounts to N$991 million, of which the bulk, N$623 million, will go towards the completion of the Neckartal Dam in the //Karas Region.
According to agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb another N$108 million will go towards refunding the City of Windhoek for projects to improve water supply security in central Namibia. !Naruseb said this left the ministry with a meagre N$260 million for water-related development activities.
He was speaking during his budget motivation for the financial year 2018/19 in the National Assembly.
According to !Naruseb the construction of the Neckartal Dam will be completed this financial year. He said the expected date for commissioning the dam was in June this year, while the completion date for monitoring and reporting was in August 2018.
According to him the ministry, through the Technical Committee of Experts (TCE) for the Cabinet Committee on Water Supply Security (CCWSS), would continue with measures aimed at addressing water supply security.
He said the activities that would be undertaken included the upgrading of the Gammams reclamation works in Windhoek, the Kombat/Berg Aukas power supply and the refurbishment of the Von Bach Dam pump stations, which were all aimed at enhancing water supply to the central area of Namibia.
Other activities include the refurbishment of the Kuiseb Collector 2 and the replacement of the Schwarzekuppe to Swakopmund and Omdel to Wlotzkasbaken pipelines to improve water supply in the central coastal areas.
!Naruseb said that would be coupled with the upgrading and extension of the Oshakati water treatment plant.
Furthermore, the construction of Ondangwa to Omuntele pipeline extension and the King Kauluma to Omutsegwonime water supply scheme in the Oshikoto Region, as well as the construction of a water supply scheme for displaced communities in the Kavango East (Shamvhura to Shamangorwa pipeline) would continue in the 2018/2019 financial year.
!Naruseb added that the Iitapa to Okeeholongo water supply scheme phase one and the Katima Mulilo to Kongola water supply pipeline phase two were completed and would be handed over during the 2018/19 financial year.
The minister further said that regular meetings were held to discuss progress on the Noordoewer/Vioolsdrift dam feasibility study.
According to him the project was expected to be completed in September 2017. An extension request was received to allow completion of the environmental impact assessment.
The following tasks were completed: water resources planning model, water quality modelling, environmental screening, water requirements assessments, sedimentation assessment, and dam design and optimisation.
An agreement on the principles of cooperation along the Lower Orange River is expected to be signed with South Africa this financial year to pave the way for joint development and water sharing.
ELLANIE SMIT
This amounts to N$991 million, of which the bulk, N$623 million, will go towards the completion of the Neckartal Dam in the //Karas Region.
According to agriculture minister Alpheus !Naruseb another N$108 million will go towards refunding the City of Windhoek for projects to improve water supply security in central Namibia. !Naruseb said this left the ministry with a meagre N$260 million for water-related development activities.
He was speaking during his budget motivation for the financial year 2018/19 in the National Assembly.
According to !Naruseb the construction of the Neckartal Dam will be completed this financial year. He said the expected date for commissioning the dam was in June this year, while the completion date for monitoring and reporting was in August 2018.
According to him the ministry, through the Technical Committee of Experts (TCE) for the Cabinet Committee on Water Supply Security (CCWSS), would continue with measures aimed at addressing water supply security.
He said the activities that would be undertaken included the upgrading of the Gammams reclamation works in Windhoek, the Kombat/Berg Aukas power supply and the refurbishment of the Von Bach Dam pump stations, which were all aimed at enhancing water supply to the central area of Namibia.
Other activities include the refurbishment of the Kuiseb Collector 2 and the replacement of the Schwarzekuppe to Swakopmund and Omdel to Wlotzkasbaken pipelines to improve water supply in the central coastal areas.
!Naruseb said that would be coupled with the upgrading and extension of the Oshakati water treatment plant.
Furthermore, the construction of Ondangwa to Omuntele pipeline extension and the King Kauluma to Omutsegwonime water supply scheme in the Oshikoto Region, as well as the construction of a water supply scheme for displaced communities in the Kavango East (Shamvhura to Shamangorwa pipeline) would continue in the 2018/2019 financial year.
!Naruseb added that the Iitapa to Okeeholongo water supply scheme phase one and the Katima Mulilo to Kongola water supply pipeline phase two were completed and would be handed over during the 2018/19 financial year.
The minister further said that regular meetings were held to discuss progress on the Noordoewer/Vioolsdrift dam feasibility study.
According to him the project was expected to be completed in September 2017. An extension request was received to allow completion of the environmental impact assessment.
The following tasks were completed: water resources planning model, water quality modelling, environmental screening, water requirements assessments, sedimentation assessment, and dam design and optimisation.
An agreement on the principles of cooperation along the Lower Orange River is expected to be signed with South Africa this financial year to pave the way for joint development and water sharing.
ELLANIE SMIT
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