MEC promises millions for drought relief

PROVINCIAL government is allocating R33-million to COGTA to aid water provision in the Umkhanyakude District Municipality as part of the Provincial Drought Relief Programme.

This was according to KZN MEC for Finance, Ms Belinda Scott, when she tabled the 2015/16 Adjustment Estimates at the Legislature in Pietermaritzburg on Thursday.

The funds are designated for repairs to vehicles, pumps, broken borehole shafts and connections as well as relocation of bulk water.

The Minster said Umgeni Water will receive the funds as the implementing agent because of the skills, expertise and equipment the institution possesses.

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In addition, the national Department of Water and Sanitation has allocated R352-million for provincial drought relief, of which R90.5-million was allocated to Umkhanyakude.

‘The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has set aside R114-million from their budget for drought relief for the agricultural sector and this includes assisting with scooping of communal dams, feed and other agricultural extension services to support farmers affected by the drought.

‘Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife has started carting water to the game reserves to sustain tourism activities and are currently drilling boreholes to augment its water source with an estimated spend of R3-million.

‘The Department of Human Settlements has allocated R5-million from its budget for the provision of water storage tanks to RDP houses.’

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Further drought relief efforts throughout KZN include deployment of engineers to assist with roll-out of water infrastructure, construction of desalination plants to augment water capacity in coastal municipalities and drilling of new boreholes.

Water storage tanks will be procured and installed at strategic points, while water schemes will be repaired to function optimally.

The Department of Transport will excavate trenches to fast-track the implementation of some water schemes and dig communal dams where required.

The protection of wetland areas is receiving the attention of the Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs and the national Department of Environmental Affairs will fast-track environmental authorisations where they relate to emergency or disaster related projects.

Read more on the Zululand drought HERE

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