Govt acts to protect water bodies

GOVERNMENT will come up with a Statutory Instrument (SI) to safeguard water bodies and ensure that perpetrators of illegal activities are dealt with, Water Development and Environment Protection Minister Jonas Chanda has said.

Dr Chanda said Government was planning to come up with the SI to protect water bodies following rampant deforestation and illegal sand mining near rivers and streams in the country.

He said this in Lufwanyama during the tour of Katembula dam which was set to provide piped water to the people in the district.

The Minister urged District Commissioner, Dorothy Chimpimpi, to ensure that the dam was safeguarded from any form of illegal activities.

"We are here at katembula dam because we want to see the potential of the dam to supply water to the entire district when Nkana Water and Sanitation Company starts to supply water to the area. This is a nice water body which does not dry up even in dry season

“As Government, we are planning to come up with a statutory instrument to safeguard and protect water bodies. This statutory instrument will ensure that those engaged in illegal activities near water bodies are punished," Dr Chanda said.

Dr Chanda said Government was determined to improve water supply in various communities while ensuring that water bodies were protected.

He said he was disappointed that in areas like Mkushi, some rivers and streams were almost drying up because of rampant deforestation and illegal sand mining.

And Nkana Water managing director, Diana Makwaba, said the company would carry out a feasibility study of connecting water supply to lufwanyama district

Ms Makwaba said, with the help and support of the local people, her company would try its best to connect the district to piped water

"I can't say much now because we need to do a feasibility study to see how we will carry out this project. As we start doing our feasibility study, we would like maximum cooperation from the local people," Ms Makwaba said.