MARIENTAL – The Mariental Flood Task Force (MFTF) says the allocation of exclusive rights to individual operators for sand mining in the Fish River will slow down the process of removing sand out of the river and could result in accusations of favouritism.
Chairman of the MFTF, Chris Nel, says in a letter to the Hardap governor that the task force does not agree with the governor on some issues pertaining to sand mining as currently carried out by some businesspeople for commercial purposes.
But Nel says the MFTF is in support of controlled and regulated sand mining that will assist in removing sandbanks and sand islands in the river. “The MFTF however advises against exclusive rights to a single miner and operators as it may slow down the process and could result in accusations of favouritism,” he said.
In response to Nel’s letter, Carl Christiaans the personal assistant to the Governor of Hardap Region, Katrina Hanse-Himarwa, says the governor is not against sand mining in the river, but the governor wants to have the mining done legally so that government can get its fair share through taxation as prescribed by the country’s laws.
Christiaans said it is imperative that a proper environmental study be carried out to see what impact the mining will have on nature.
According to Christiaans, serious consideration should also be given to job creation for the people of the area.
Nel has argued that sand mining will undoubtedly contribute to improved flow in the river and that it also has economic advantages for Mariental as sand and stone are mined at low cost from the river and after processing provided to local developers at reasonable prices.
Bricks, made from the sand and clay from the river, are also sold at lower prices to local people than in many other parts of the country.
“I do not know where Mariental and other nearby towns will get their sand, bricks and pavers from, if sand mining is not allowed in the Fish River,” said Nel.
By Hoandi !Gaeb