Mariental residents in panic mode, Council ‘confident’

PEOPLE in the western, flood-prone part of Mariental are living in fear of a repeat of the devastating flood that hit the town two years ago, says Mariental Chief Executive Officer Paul Nghiwilepo.

In February 2006, the town was plunged into chaos when the Hardap Dam’s sluices were fully opened to discharge water from the dam after it reached an alarming 110 per cent of its capacity. Following the disastrous flood it was agreed that water be released at 500 cubic metres per second when the dam level reaches 70 per cent.Currently the Hardap Dam is 67,8 per cent full, with an inflow of three cubic metres per second for the last 24 hours, according to Nghiwilepo.He said the inflow into the dam was expected to increase to 30 cubic metres per second, which would increase the dam level by one per cent today.Nghiwilepo said reeds growing in the Fish River, which could obstruct water outflow from the dam and increase the threat of flooding, were the residents’ main concern.”Some of the residents already went to the extent of moving some of their belongings to friends’ homes located outside the flood area,” he said.Nghiwilepo expressed confidence that the Fish River would cope with 500 cubic metres of water per second from the dam, adding that there was no threat of flooding at present.”In 2006, 2 000 cubic metres of water was just too much and this led to the overflow of water in the river which resulted in a flood,” he said.He reiterated that an evacuation plan was in place, adding that information of any possible evacuation would be communicated well in advance to the residents.”Residents should not listen to speculations peddling around in the town about a possible flood and instead contact the municipality for more reliable information,” Nghiwilepo urged.Following the disastrous flood it was agreed that water be released at 500 cubic metres per second when the dam level reaches 70 per cent.Currently the Hardap Dam is 67,8 per cent full, with an inflow of three cubic metres per second for the last 24 hours, according to Nghiwilepo.He said the inflow into the dam was expected to increase to 30 cubic metres per second, which would increase the dam level by one per cent today.Nghiwilepo said reeds growing in the Fish River, which could obstruct water outflow from the dam and increase the threat of flooding, were the residents’ main concern.”Some of the residents already went to the extent of moving some of their belongings to friends’ homes located outside the flood area,” he said.Nghiwilepo expressed confidence that the Fish River would cope with 500 cubic metres of water per second from the dam, adding that there was no threat of flooding at present. “In 2006, 2 000 cubic metres of water was just too much and this led to the overflow of water in the river which resulted in a flood,” he said.He reiterated that an evacuation plan was in place, adding that information of any possible evacuation would be communicated well in advance to the residents.”Residents should not listen to speculations peddling around in the town about a possible flood and instead contact the municipality for more reliable information,” Nghiwilepo urged.