Latest news with #Municipality
The Citizen
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Citizen
Reasons given for incomplete eradication of 10 000 bucket toilets
The Bucket Eradication Programme was first announced in 2016 and projects to rid eight towns of bucket toilets are still underway. The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) is still working through its bucket toilet backlog, with some areas unlikely to be complete before early 2027. Eight towns — predominantly in the Free State — have projects underway to eradicate a total of 10 700 bucket toilets. According to the department, the projects are at various stages of completion but have encountered several problems since work began. 10 000 toilets by 2026 Minister of Water and Sanitation Pemmy Majondina revealed the status of the projects and the reasons for delays in a recent written response to a parliamentary question. The projects fall under the Bucket Eradication Programme (BEP), which focuses on informal toilets in the North West, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Free State. Projects in the Setsoto Local Municipality towns of Senekal, Ficksburg and Clocolan are at 83%, 78% and 82%. The work to remove just over 6000 bucket toilets is set to be complete by March 2026, but DWS states that hard rock found during trench excavations slowed work and led to equipment failures. DWS's in-house construction unit took over projects in Reitz and Mamafubedu in the Nketoana Local Municipality after the contractor was removed. However, no targeted completion date was disclosed. Also in Nketoana, the removal of 1 192 toilets in Arlington is 84% complete, with the department expecting the work to be completed by the end of October. The same deadline is set for a 1279-toilet project in Dealesville where the department is 94% complete. In Campbell in the Northern Cape, a project to remove 596 bucket toilets sits at 0% completion, as the budget was required to be split over two financial years. Problems on site In addition to the reasons given for the Setsoto delays, the department listed seven other reasons for project delays. In Senekal and Arlington, the expropriation of privately owned land was cited as creating a lengthy delay. Excessive rain in the first three months of 2025 slowed progress, as did the discovery of high water tables at all projects. Cash flow challenges were repeatedly reported by contractors, design challenges were encountered mid-construction, and stoppages have occurred due to labour disputes. Additionally, municipalities have been slow to issue wayleaves and identify servitudes. 'Not properly planned' Majondina's response stated that the original aims of the project did not align with the reality on the ground, as bulk water services were not present to service the new toilets. 'The programme was not properly planned at its inception and detailed feasibility studies for implementing water-borne sanitation were not done,' stated the minister. Majondina added that project support was now being provided to contractors through the department's engineering unit. 'The department is actively monitoring the BEP projects through the supervision of a resident engineer stationed permanently on site per project as well as monthly site progress meetings to ensure that any challenges that arise are attended to expeditiously,' she concluded. NOW READ: SAHRC urges government to accelerate eradication of pit latrines and bucket toilets
Arab Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait's Forgotten Tyre Graveyard: Push for Urgent Cleanup Plan
KUWAIT CITY, July 26: Municipal Council member Alia Al-Farsi has submitted a question to the executive body of Kuwait Municipality regarding tyre landfills and dumping sites, pointing out that Kuwait has scarce and undiversified natural resources, while it has large quantities of waste that can be utilised in the economic sector. Al-Farsi said the Environmental Affairs Committee in the council discussed this issue in its first workshop -- held on June 26, 2024 -- under the title, 'Tyre Landfills and Dumping Sites and their Impact on Public Health and Environmental Safety - Current Situation and Sustainable Solutions,' which resulted in the issuance of a set of urgent and long-term recommendations. She included in her question the most important recommendations presented at the workshop -- the need for coordination between the Municipality, Environment Public Authority (EPA) and Public Authority for Industry (PAI) to gradually eliminate tyre accumulation, particularly at the Kilometer 65 site in Salmi, with the participation of factories licensed by PAI and Kuwaiti entrepreneurs approved by the Municipality. She said this should be part of a comprehensive plan that includes studying the specifications of the accumulated tyres (both new and old) and the mechanism for distributing them to treatment facilities, under the supervision of the Municipality and according to a clear timetable. She added that the plan must also include meeting the requirements of the Kuwait Fire Force (KFF) at tyre collection sites, such as establishing temporary water basins, developing a comprehensive plan to manage tyre disposal in line with sustainable development goals, and rehabilitating waste transporters in light of the new regulations for municipal waste management and public hygiene. She enumerated the other recommendations as follows: Promote modern tyre processing methods; Prepare a procedures manual for the use of recycled building materials in coordination with Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), Ministry of Public Works and Kuwait University; Specify legislative frameworks through the Regulations Review Committee at the Municipality; Monitor the results of experiments conducted by some entities using rubber asphalt extracted from tyres, in preparation for developing technical specifications and expanding the scope of application in road projects; Invest in recycled waste within road maintenance contracts at the Ministry of Public Works; Support and encourage the private sector to implement projects that promote sustainable development and the green economy Al-Farsi pointed out that more than a year had passed since the issuance of these recommendations, which prompted her to present a series of questions to the executive body in the Municipality, about the measures taken regarding the tyres landfill in Salmi (Kilometer 65) and the extent of the commitment of the Municipality to implement the recommendations; especially concerning the disposal of tyre waste in line with the sustainable development goals. She also inquired about the mechanism followed in measuring and managing the quantities of accumulated tyres, as well as the increase and disposal rates.
CBC
4 days ago
- General
- CBC
Stop calling 911 about unhoused people on Public Utility Commission property: CK police
The Chatham-Kent Police Service is asking people to please stop calling 911 about people who are homeless camped on the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) property on Grand Avenue. Calling 911 is for emergencies only, the force said in a news release issued Thursday. "The Chatham-Kent Police Service is aware of the presence of unhoused individuals choosing to shelter at the PUC property, which is municipally-owned and is within the guidelines of the municipality's encampment protocol," police said. "Unhoused individuals are permitted to shelter at this property under existing guidelines." Outreach workers from R.O.C.K., Reach Out Chatham-Kent, have been working with the municipality to help relocate residents of an encampment in the downtown park on the edge of the Thames River. City officials say they needed people out of the park by the start of this week because a construction project requires the site for equipment storage into next year. Unhoused can camp if there's no adequate alternative The eviction has led to confusion among encampment residents and their advocates over where they can legally camp. Courts have ruled that Ontario municipalities cannot evict people living at the encampment without offering adequate, accessible shelter spaces. "This means that the Municipality of Chatham-Kent cannot remove people who are experiencing homelessness unless alternative options are provided or there are compelling safety concerns," the municipality says on its website. "Chatham-Kent's current emergency shelter (Victoria Park Place) operated at 99 per cent capacity on average in 2024, illustrating that there are simply not enough beds for the approximately 200-plus individuals experiencing homelessness in Chatham-Kent." The municipality's encampment policy prohibits encampments in the following areas. On or within 100 metres of municipal playgrounds, water parks, splash pads, beaches or sports fields. On or within 100 metres of any elementary school, childcare facility, assisted living facility or other health or social services facility providing support or care services to youth or vulnerable populations. Within 10 metres of any private property line. On or under bridges. On or within five metres of sidewalks or pedestrian paths. On or within 25 metres of any cemetery. On or within five metres of an off-leash dog area. On or within five metres of any community garden. In any actively used parking lot. In or on any public-use building or structure. In areas that block the free movement of another person on a street, public pathway, sidewalk or other path of public travel. On municipal land where individuals have a private easement or ownership interest or where the municipality owes a duty to maintain the land to the benefit or partial benefit of private individuals (i.e. beach access). On municipal lands in areas obstructing construction or maintenance activities. Structures must be freestanding and able to be moved as necessary, the rules say. The policy also expresses zero tolerance for violence or other criminal acts and demands that sites "maintain a level of reasonable cleanliness."
CTV News
6 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Gas line breaks in Wheatley
A gas line has broken in Wheatley during demolition at 24 Erie Street North, according to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. Fire crews are on scene and Enbridge is on its way to fix the break. Precautionary air monitoring will be taking place, conducted by Chatham-Kent Fire and Rescue, to make sure the public is safe. Erie Street North will stay closed until the gas line is fixed. This is unrelated to gas and water wells, the municipality said.
Time of India
7 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Minister Lad seeks grant for Bennihalla project
Pic: Labour minister Santosh Lad receives grievances at the Janata Drashan Programme held in Annigeri taluk Hubballi: Labour minister Santosh Lad said that a request was submitted to chief minister Siddaramiah for a grant of Rs 1,600 crore for the Bennihalla project. He was speaking at a Janata Darshan programme organised in collaboration with the district administration, Annigeri taluk administration, and taluk panchayat in Annigeri on Tuesday. Lad mentioned that brokers and vendors selling fertilisers at higher prices than those available to farmers will be inspected through the deputy commissioner. The licences of such shops will be cancelled, and legal action will be taken against the owners, he said. Lad stated that based on the instructions of chief minister Siddaramiah, Janata Darshan Sabha are being held from last two years to facilitate people in directly addressing their problems and grievances within a legal framework and as locally as possible, in a time-bound manner. Grievances received Around 199 grievances were submitted by the public during the Janata Darshan programme. Out of these, 40 applications were related to the Revenue Department, and 40 applications were related to the Municipality and other departments. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Villas For Sale in Dubai Might Surprise You Villas in Dubai | Search Ads Get Info Undo The public applications were sent to the officials of the respective departments for further action, and after receiving their replies, they were presented at the Janata Darshan. The applications that need to be decided at the govt level will be sent to the concerned govt department with appropriate recommendations, said labour minister Santosh Lad. MLA NH Konaraddi, deputy commissioner Divya Prabhu, zilla panchayat CEO Bhuvanesh Patil, and others were present.
