Africa-Press – Mozambique. The Regional Water Administration of the South (ARA-Sul) has announced that Pongolapoort Dam ]commonly referred to as Jozini Dam] in neighbouring South Africa will gradually increase discharges from Sunday (20), with warns that flooding could occur.
ARA-Sul explains that the discharges aim to restore storage capacity in the reservoir and replenish the out-of-channel basins along river floodplains for the social and environmental sustainability of communities in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Discharges will increase from 20 cubic metres per second (m3/s) to a maximum of 750 m3/s on the 30th of November. It takes about seven days for additional discharge waters to travel from the Pongolapoort Dam to the border between South Africa and Mozambique.
“In view of this scenario, it is expected that water levels in the Maputo river will increase, possibly reaching the alert level in the first week of December at the hydrometric station E-6, located in the town of Madubula, as a result of the expected maximum discharge (750 cubic metres per second), which may affect the small agricultural fields located in the localities of Madubula, Tinonganine and Salamanga in the district of Matutuíne,” ARA-Sul warns.
ARA-Sul therefore appeals to society in general to observe precautionary measures, avoiding crossing and carrying out activities along the Maputo riverbed during this period.
It recommends communities that practise agriculture in riverside areas to harvest produce in advance and to monitor water-level information disseminated by the competent authorities.
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