No mercy for polluters
2009-11-26
THE pollution of the water in the Berg River is a matter of concern, says Gerrit van Rensburg, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Western Cape. “Municipalities and farmers who are polluting the rivers of the Western Cape will receive no mercy from the Western Cape government,” he said at a recent indaba of the Department of Water Affairs in Cape Town. Agriculture is the single largest user of water in South Africa, using an estimated 50% of all available water in the country. Van Rensburg said that new satellite technology is enabling the Western Cape Department of Agriculture to conduct research on water usage and irrigation efficiency. Van Rensburg said that a worst case scenario predicts that the demand for water will be larger than the supply as soon as 2012 in the Western Cape. “All people in the province will have to rethink their approach towards water usage”. The Provincial Water Indaba is a platform created by the Minister Bulelwa Sonjica that aims to facilitate engagement around critical water challenges facing the province including issues such as climate change, drought and water regulation. A river improvement programme, an integrated water management plan and access to basic services was discussed. The Western Cape Province now will be able to forge a Provincial Water Action Plan to fast track water service delivery.
More
News
|
