22 Sep 2015

Significant progress has been made on the infrastructure development project at Extension 11 in Palapye. The multimillion pula project, which started in 2013, is due for completion in April 2016. 

The project involves, among other things, the construction of 69.8km of roads and storm water drainage system, 55km of water reticulation, 57km of telecommunication ducts, sewer reticulation and four lift pump stations as well as construction of permanent office block. 

While, the office block is complete, construction of roads is at 61 per cent against the planned 83 per cent.

The sewer reticulation is 90 per cent complete against the planned target of 79 per cent, while the construction of water reticulation is at 99 per cent against the planned 97 per cent target. 

The construction of Botswana Telecommunication Corporation (BTC) ducts is 57 per cent complete against 73 per cent planned for.

Department of Technical Services project officer, Mr Frans Bale said during stakeholder meeting held in Palapye recently that the overall progress is at 77 per cent out of the targeted 83 per cent, adding that the project is three months behind schedule mainly due to heavy rains in the first quarter of 2014.

Another factor which contributed to the delay, Mr Bale said was due to unavailability of material, adding that BTC had supplied the material and that the contractor was working round the clock to meet the target. 

Regarding roads construction, he said the gap would be closed in a short period of time more so that the material is available.

Other factors that contributed to the delay, he said include insufficient resources for main contractor, poor performance of one of the roads sub-contractors and delay in the issuance of the approved EIA report.

To mitigate this, he said the main contractor brought more resources for road crossing teams and hired more tippers and further engaged a third sub-contractor for roads. He said work in trenches was limited to 500 metres during the rainy season so that water drains quicker.

Palapye Sub-council chairman, Mr Lesedi Phuthego thanked stakeholders for the efforts made to make the project a success. Mr Phuthego urged the contractor to finish the project on time and on budget. 

The site to be developed under the project is an area measuring 350 hectares where 3 159 plots would be serviced. 

Before the project could take off, Palapye Sub-land Board had mistakenly allocated 462 plots in the area, but no development of the plots was permitted whilst the project was ongoing. As such, development of the plots would be carried out after the project had been handed over. Ends