Newly appointed Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environment Protection Dr. Jonas Chanda has urged the Water Resources Management Authority – WARMA to strengthen its regulations and stiffen penalties on commercial entities and individuals that disregard the law by encroaching on water bodies.
This comes after WARMA Director General Eng. Kenneth Nyundu presented to the Minister, some challenges that the authority is facing which include diminishing of water resources due to encroachment of water bodies by commercial companies and individuals across the country.
Speaking when he paid a courtesy call on WARMA on August 5, 2020, Dr. Chanda said individuals found breaking the law should be punished as laws are meant to be enforced and implemented, hence failure to abide by the regulations calls for a punishment.
He said WARMA should also engage local authorities at high level in order to bring sanity in the sector adding that if there is need to strengthen and amend the laws, such recommendations should be made to the ministry without any further delay.
Dr. Chanda has since assured the Authority of government’s support at all levels and has commended WARMA for its continued hard work in the water sector. He urged the water authority to continue playing a critical role in managing water resources in the country.
“Am also glad to note that you have applied technology in the management of water by going digital, but am still emphasizing that the ministry will work together with you by engaging treasury to see how we can support that. However, if regulations and penalties are not adequate, there is need to move on very aggressively to protect water bodies,” He added.
WARMA Director General Eng. Kenneth Nyundu said the authority is now working with Departments of Water Resources Department – DWRD officers and has engaged Local Authorities to work together to curb encroachment of land in water sensitive areas.
Ha added that WARMA has also improved its technical skills and is working on ensuring that sensitization messages to the public on the need to follow the Authority’s procedure is made available online.
“Our current laws also provide for penalties, for instance drilling of boreholes without permit, one is fined with K30,000, while erecting a dam without authority goes as high as K150,000. Further the person or organization involved is required to demolish the structure, so the provisions in terms of the law are adequate,” He added.
