06 Feb 2013

The estimated budget requirement for Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) takeover of villages in Boteti Sub-district was about P37 million.

This covered expenditure of about P18 million and a recurrent budget at about P19 million, said the Minister of Minerals, Energy and Water Resources, Mr Kitso Mokaila.

He said villages in Boteti were taken over during phases four and five of the water sector reforms.

He explained that due to financial constraints, government had taken a decision to effect a national tariff increase of 10 per cent in May 2012 to enable WUC to meet its financial requirements that included the costs of takeover.

The minister noted that the monthly operational costs for providing water services in Boteti Sub district was about P2 million, and that it was covered by WUC revenues.

He said WUC was undertaking some projects for the Boteti Sub district which included, but not limited to, equipping of boreholes in Letlhakane, Xere, Mopipi and Mosu. “These projects are at various stages and some have been completed as early as end of December 2012,” he added.

He also revealed that the amount used for the projects so far stood at over P10 million.

Mr Mokaila said to further augment water supply to the area, the corporation has embarked on a project to improve water supply to Boteti South and Central clusters by equipping additional boreholes.

He noted that the corporation has already mobilised, and that the project is scheduled for completion in early 2014 with while the budgeted amount for the project was P190 million.

For the Boteti North clusters, the minister said the projects included construction of three water treatment plants and associated pipelines and power supplies  budgeted at about P108 million.

Boteti North MP, Mr Slumber Tsogwane had asked the minister to state the budget for the takeover of villages in Boteti Sub district by WUC and the amount which has been disbursed as well as the activities undertaken. ENDS