20 May 2013

The Minister of Transport and Communications says the contractor building the new bridge at Thamalakane River in Maun would take necessary steps to ensure that the environment is not affected.

Addressing Shorobe residents at the World Telecommunications and Information Society Day recently, Mr Nonofo Molefhi said concerns had been raised that the contractor was destroying the environment and that nothing was being done about it. “Let me assure you that before construction of the bridge commenced, an environmental assessment study was done and everything is in order,” he said.

He said the contractor had been addressed about the recent accident that saw one of the machines plunge into the river. “He will take care of the oil and diesel spillage that may have occurred during the accident,” Mr Molefhi said.

He said government was aware that the river was important to the people of Ngamiland, adding that steps had been taken to ensure that it was protected. “Accidents happen and when they do happen, the contractor will be charged with rectifying such happenings,” he said. Mr Molefhi further informed residents that the Sehithwa/Maun road would be maintained.

“My wish was that if money was available, we would construct it again, but we cannot, hence it will be maintained,” said the minister. He said people should note that for his ministry to maintain roads, it needed P1 billion which they did not have.

Minister Molefhi said he had suggested that the P0.20 levy that government got from road users was not enough and should be increased to P1. “Currently we only get close to P100 million from the levy yearly. The increase will be done when petrol prices decrease and in steps till we reach the P1 mark,” said Mr Molefhi.

He also noted that a contractor had been awarded the tender for the Toteng/Sitatunga bridge. ENDS