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dam-l Fewer dams in future in SA/LS
A colleague in SA passed this along.
>http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/briefing/nw19990224/16.html
>
>WATER-WEEK
>FEWER DAMS IN FUTURE, SAYS DEPT FOR WATER AFFAIRS
>JOHANNESBURG February 23 1999 Sapa
>Fewer dams would be built in future because of a lack of available water and
>rivers, said a spokesman for the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry on
>Tuesday.
>At a press breakfast in Johannesburg to promote National Water Week in
>March, deputy director-general of water policy Tami Sokutu said there would
>be a move away from dam construction so that money could instead be invested
>in water management, conservation and distribution initiatives.
>National Water Week would run from March 15 to 21 and aimed to sensitise
>people to the issues of water availability, conservation, utilisation and
>development.
>"The overriding message of National Water Week '99 is that all of us can do
>something - no matter how small - about the water shortage. If we all do our
>bit, then as a country we'll save an enormous amount," said Sokutu.
>"Water is already in short supply in Southern Africa. Our annual average
>rainfall is only about half the world average," said Sokutu.
>He said experts predicted water demand would outstrip water supply by 2005.
>The demand was not only from South Africa, he added. According to the
>National Water Act, South Africa was obliged to share its water with its
>neighbouring countries. If the water supply was not managed properly, South
>Africa was heading for conflict with these countries.
>Water Week - organised by a steering committee uniting central government,
>regional water services, regional water boards and local authorities - would
>be launched at Cape Town's waterfront by Kader Asmal, the Minster of Water
>Affairs and Forestry.
>School information packs, posters and information leaflets would be
>distributed nation-wide throughout the week, said Sokutu.
>
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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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