28 Jan 2021

Ntlo Ya Dikgosi has been informed that the Ministry of Land Management, Water and Sanitation Services is aware of water supply shortage at Nokaneng caused by loss of efficiency on the existing Nokaneng treatment plant.

Answering a question on January 27, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, Ms Phildah Kereng said the treatment plant was commissioned in 2009 with a capacity of 145 cubic meters per day against the current 120 cubic meters per day.

As a short term mitigation, Minister Kereng said, ‘the ministry through Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) will be undertaking a phased refurbishment of the existing plant during the 2020/2021 financial planning year at a budget of P1.5 million.

The work is at scoping stage and the actual refurbishment is scheduled to be completed by May 2021.”

She said, she was also aware that current water treatment plant with a design capacity of 145 cubic meters per day compounded operational challenges and therefore was not able to meet the water supply demand of 494 cubic meters per day.

She said the current shortfall was augmented by bowsing, which was inadequate.

In the long term plan, Ms Kereng said the ministry had proposed to construct 16ML water treatment plant at Sepopa to supply Sepopa and Gumare interconnecting schemes which included Nokaneng, Tubu and Habu villages.

She said the project was deferred due to lack of funds and would be reconsidered.

The minister was responding to a question from specially elected member, Kgosi Kebonyetsala Fish who had asked if the minister was aware of water shortage in Nokaneng and plans in place to address the situation.

Kgosi Fish also asked if there were any plans to extend Nokaneng water treatment plant to meet the demand.

Meanwhile, Minister Kereng informed Ntlo Ya Dikgosi that following demarcation, Ghanzi Land Board has 543 applications for ploughing fields at Charleshill since 2011.

She said the land board first allocated 30 applicants in 2011.  

“Another ploughing fields allocation was done for 276 applicants during its meeting of December 7 – 15, 2020,” she said.

She said out of 276 allocated, 208 had been given plot numbers and shown plots, while the remaining 68 were given only given plot numbers and not physically shown their plots due to rain during site visit.

She said the land board was in consultation with affected individuals to show them their fields.

Kgosi Mbao Kahiko of Ghanzi had for an update on progress made regarding the allocation of ploughing fields at Charleshill to farmers who were on the waiting list as well as those given plot numbers but never been allocated. ENDS