Question NW3867 to the Minister of Water and Sanitation
11 December 2023 - NW3867
Mohlala, Ms MR to ask the Minister of Water and Sanitation
What urgent steps has his department taken to address the (a) funding challenges and (b) cost overruns faced by the Umzimvubu Water Project, particularly in light of the significant budget discrepancies reported for the (i) Ntabelanga and (ii) Laleni Dams?
Reply:
a) The Department of Water and Sanitation has taken the following steps to address the funding challenges related to the Umzimvubu Water Project:
- Through its Water Resource Development Planning unit, the Department has undertaken a project reconfiguration which resulted in a saving of 45% on the project.
- The reconfiguration included:
- Using existing water services infrastructure rather than building new water services infrastructure
- Deferring Lalini Dam to a later stage
- Removing non-essential elements such as the visitor centre.
- The reconfigured project has been approved by national Treasury for funding from the fiscus.
b) The current activities which have had costs associated to them are mainly the Design Development and construction of the Access Road. There were no cost overruns for the design development as it was within budget. The current contract for the construction of the Access Road, which is ongoing, is also within the budget with no overruns expected. The Department has started work on the construction of Ntabelanga Dam.
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