Omuntele water crisis resolved
The crisis in the Omuntele grazing area is now a thing of the past after the water ministry completed the extension of the Ondangwa-Omuntele pipeline project.
The government decision to speed up the project came in the wake of a Namibian Sun exposé on how farmers in the area were struggling last year to provide water for their animals.
Water is only available in the semi-arid area during the rainy season.
Omuntele constituency councillor Sacky Nangula told Namibian Sun yesterday that the government had completed the 80-kilometre pipeline and Omuntele was supplying farmers with fresh water throughout the grazing area, up to Okuma.
Nangula said the project was completed towards the end of last year and farmers and their animals would be drinking free of charge until March.
“The pipeline project has been completed and water is being supplied throughout the grazing area. Farmers have been given until 7 March to use the water for free. This is a huge relief to the farmers, who had a tough year,” Nangula said.
In 2014 the water ministry commenced with the construction of a 60-kilometre pipeline from Omuntele to Onadhi, which was expected to be completed in 2015. The project included the construction of bulk pipelines, elevated storage reservoirs, a concrete reservoir, a booster pump station and manifold water meter installations.
The project was implemented by the Oshikoto regional council under the Namibian Water Supply and Sanitation Programme special account, supported by the European Commission, to support the functions of the water and sanitation sector.
The programme, which ended in 2017, was aimed at improving water security, by ensuring coordinated planning and the implementation of rural and bulk water supply infrastructure, and the sanitation policy and programme.
It was therefore aimed at upgrading existing water infrastructure, constructing new water supply infrastructure, improving the management of existing water sources and enhancing transboundary water cooperation.
While the project was being constructed, the Oshikoto regional council took a decision to extend the project by another 20 kilometres from Onadhi to Okuma. However, the project budget proved insufficient.
Nangula said this was done because soon after construction had begun, the inhabitants of Okuma and the surrounding areas started complaining that the water supply must be extended to their areas.
“After community members of Okuma started demanding for the extension of the project, I took their grievances to the regional council. The regional council approved the 20-kilometre extension to the project,” Nangula said.
“It is unfortunate that only the project was extended, but the project budget was not adjusted. This later affected the project, as the money was not able to finish the project. Government had to source over N$12 million to finish the project.”
ILENI NANDJATO
The government decision to speed up the project came in the wake of a Namibian Sun exposé on how farmers in the area were struggling last year to provide water for their animals.
Water is only available in the semi-arid area during the rainy season.
Omuntele constituency councillor Sacky Nangula told Namibian Sun yesterday that the government had completed the 80-kilometre pipeline and Omuntele was supplying farmers with fresh water throughout the grazing area, up to Okuma.
Nangula said the project was completed towards the end of last year and farmers and their animals would be drinking free of charge until March.
“The pipeline project has been completed and water is being supplied throughout the grazing area. Farmers have been given until 7 March to use the water for free. This is a huge relief to the farmers, who had a tough year,” Nangula said.
In 2014 the water ministry commenced with the construction of a 60-kilometre pipeline from Omuntele to Onadhi, which was expected to be completed in 2015. The project included the construction of bulk pipelines, elevated storage reservoirs, a concrete reservoir, a booster pump station and manifold water meter installations.
The project was implemented by the Oshikoto regional council under the Namibian Water Supply and Sanitation Programme special account, supported by the European Commission, to support the functions of the water and sanitation sector.
The programme, which ended in 2017, was aimed at improving water security, by ensuring coordinated planning and the implementation of rural and bulk water supply infrastructure, and the sanitation policy and programme.
It was therefore aimed at upgrading existing water infrastructure, constructing new water supply infrastructure, improving the management of existing water sources and enhancing transboundary water cooperation.
While the project was being constructed, the Oshikoto regional council took a decision to extend the project by another 20 kilometres from Onadhi to Okuma. However, the project budget proved insufficient.
Nangula said this was done because soon after construction had begun, the inhabitants of Okuma and the surrounding areas started complaining that the water supply must be extended to their areas.
“After community members of Okuma started demanding for the extension of the project, I took their grievances to the regional council. The regional council approved the 20-kilometre extension to the project,” Nangula said.
“It is unfortunate that only the project was extended, but the project budget was not adjusted. This later affected the project, as the money was not able to finish the project. Government had to source over N$12 million to finish the project.”
ILENI NANDJATO
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