Africa-Press – Namibia. THE Road Authority (RA) has spent so far approximately N$38 million for the rehabilitation of several borrow pits in the Ohangwena Region.
This was revealed by RA Chief Executive Officer Conrad Lutombi on Thursday.
RA first focused in the Ohangwena Region, before branching out to other regions, due to its high population density.
Although some of the borrow pits were opened before Namibia gained independence, the situation was worsened by ongoing illegal sand mining.
In 2019, Lutombi told members of the media that they were to spend N$29 million to rehabilitate all the 119 borrow pits used in the past to build roads in the Ohangwena Region, as some of the old sand mines pose a danger to surrounding communities.
“The project is ongoing. Once completed it will be extended to other regions such as Oshana, Omusati and Oshikoto to mention a few,” he said.
He explained that the purpose of the rehabilitation is to improve safety of the local communities most especially children, elderly persons and livestock in the areas with relatively high population densities and therefore high exposure to un-rehabilitated borrow pits.
Lutombi added that apart from the environmental impacts, the erosion of the borrow pit’s slopes also affects the stability of fences, houses, structures, cemeteries and nearby roads and these have to be prevented.
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