01 Apr 2014

The three agricultural dams in Tonota North constituency do not require desilting or wall maintenance, Parliament has been informed.

Responding to a question, Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Mr Oreeditse Molebatsi listed the dams as Marapong, Kakobandudu and Maleladigwagwa in Shashe Mooke.

He, however, said these dam groups were responsible for minor maintenance like cutting off tress on the dam walls and maintenance of the perimeter fence. “Dam maintenance is continuous and it is done on a need basis,” he said.

Mr Molebatsi said since 1989 when the Water Development Section was established, more than 75 agricultural dams were maintained country wide. He said maintenance of dams though constrained by lack of resources such as heavy plant machineries is an ongoing process.

He said, in some areas, communities had mobilised themselves and assisted the ministry to do dam maintenance adding that this was a commendable. He told the house that dams were regularly monitored and inspected for soundness adding that from these inspections, dams that needed urgent maintenance were identified and prioritised.

Mr Molebatsi was responding to a question that was asked by Tonota North Member of Parliament, Mr Fidelis Molao. MP Molao had asked as to when last did the ministry desilt and maintain the walls of the Agricultural dams in the Tonota North Constituency.

He also wanted to know which dams were maintained and which ones were left out and wanted to know the reasons.

Mr Molao also asked the minister to state measures in place to maintain the dams to enable farmers to water their animals and for the other uses at the ploughing fields. Ends