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dam-l Asmal approves major dam
>
To: irn-safrica@igc.org
X-Sender: lorip@pop.lmi.net
>Cape Town - Water Affairs Minister Prof Kader Asmal on Thursday gave the
>thumbs-up for the construction of a major new R780 million dam and water
>scheme in the Western Cape.
>
>The Skuifraam Dam and supplement scheme -- to be built on the upper Berg
>River near Franschhoek -- was necessary to cope with the growing demand for
>water in the Cape Town metropolitan area, he told a media briefing at
>Parliament in Cape Town.
>
>The project would prove of enormous importance to the economy of the
>province, Asmal said.
>
>The briefing was probably his last in his capacity as minister; he retires
>after the June 2 election.
>
>Asmal said the decision to go ahead with the new dam had taken him 18 months
>to make, and was made only after extensive debate.
>
>However, despite water conservation and demand management initiatives, it
>had proved necessary to augment supplies through traditional methods.
>
>A delay in implementing such augmentation schemes could lead to water
>restrictions, which would be disruptive and costly.
>
>"No minister... can be so irresponsible... as to put a population of between
>two-and-a-half and three million people at risk," Asmal said.
>
>The Skuifraam Dam and supplementary schemes had been thoroughly examined and
>found to be technically feasible, economically desirable and socially
>acceptable.
>
>"I am therefore now announcing that the construction of the Skuifraam Dam
>and an associated supplement scheme on the upper Berg River... will go
>ahead.
>
>"It will be a combined and phased project, with an estimated capital cost of
>R780 million.
>
>"The department will facilitate the rapid implementation of these schemes,
>but costs will be borne by users," he said.
>
>An environmental impact assessment had been undertaken for both schemes.
>
>According to a phamphlet distributed by water affairs officials at the
>briefing, the assessment concluded that "neither scheme would cause impacts
>so significant to suggest that the schemes should not proceed".
>
>Environmentalists have raised concerns about the schemes' impact on the Berg
>River estuary, an internationally-renowned wetland and birdlife habitat,
>although the risk is considered to be low.
>
>-- Once completed, the Skuifraam Dam will have a gross storage capacity of
>127 million cubic metres. Its wall will be almost a kilometre long and 60
>metres high. Construction would be completed in 2001. - Sapa
>
>
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Lori Pottinger, Director, Southern Africa Program,
and Editor, World Rivers Review
International Rivers Network
1847 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, California 94703, USA
Tel. (510) 848 1155 Fax (510) 848 1008
http://www.irn.org
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