Rundu clamps down on sand mining
The Rundu town council and the police have called on residents to immediately cease with illegal sand mining activities at the town or face the wrath of the law.
The council and the police have now embarked on regular patrols to put an end to illegal sand mining activities that are rife in Rundu.
This is according to a joint statement issued on Monday by acting Kavango East police commander, Deputy Commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu, and acting town council CEO Sikongo Haihambo.
Earlier this month Namibian Sun reported on illegal sand mining activities at the town, which sees a number of young men making a living from digging up and selling sand along the Okavango River for as little as N$50 a bakkie load.
This has resulted in the destruction of the environment. It is also clearly prohibited by the Environmental Management Act of 2007.
The police and the council have thus embarked on a clampdown and perpetrators will be dealt with accordingly.
“Illegal sand mining in the town council area, which includes the floodplains of Rundu, is tantamount to theft of public property that degrades the environment and is prohibited in terms of the Environmental Management Act,” the joint statement said.
“The Namibian police in partnership with the Rundu town council have put measures in place, including regular 24-hour patrols of the flood plains and other areas around the town of Rundu, to ensure that the culprits are brought to book from this point on.”
They also cautioned the business community and residents who continue to dump refuse in floodplain areas, which is prohibited by law.
“The residents and business community of Rundu are kindly cautioned that the dumping of household, construction, garden and business refuse in areas other than the designated dumping site is prohibited in terms of the Public and Environmental Health Act, Act 1 of 2015,” the statement added.
KENYA KAMBOWE
The council and the police have now embarked on regular patrols to put an end to illegal sand mining activities that are rife in Rundu.
This is according to a joint statement issued on Monday by acting Kavango East police commander, Deputy Commissioner Bonifatius Kanyetu, and acting town council CEO Sikongo Haihambo.
Earlier this month Namibian Sun reported on illegal sand mining activities at the town, which sees a number of young men making a living from digging up and selling sand along the Okavango River for as little as N$50 a bakkie load.
This has resulted in the destruction of the environment. It is also clearly prohibited by the Environmental Management Act of 2007.
The police and the council have thus embarked on a clampdown and perpetrators will be dealt with accordingly.
“Illegal sand mining in the town council area, which includes the floodplains of Rundu, is tantamount to theft of public property that degrades the environment and is prohibited in terms of the Environmental Management Act,” the joint statement said.
“The Namibian police in partnership with the Rundu town council have put measures in place, including regular 24-hour patrols of the flood plains and other areas around the town of Rundu, to ensure that the culprits are brought to book from this point on.”
They also cautioned the business community and residents who continue to dump refuse in floodplain areas, which is prohibited by law.
“The residents and business community of Rundu are kindly cautioned that the dumping of household, construction, garden and business refuse in areas other than the designated dumping site is prohibited in terms of the Public and Environmental Health Act, Act 1 of 2015,” the statement added.
KENYA KAMBOWE
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