Pascalinah Kabi
THE Metolong Dam and Water Supply Programme (MDWSP) was officially opened on Friday amid pomp and fanfare in Thaba-Bosiu.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance was King Letsie III, Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso, Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili and representatives of the development partners who contributed to the project’s construction.
MDWSP is a M5.7 billion public works project launched in 2011 with the intention of providing a new raw water supply for Maseru and the surrounding towns.
The dam was built on the South Phuthiatsana River, around 35km from Maseru, to supply treated water to more than 500 000 people for domestic and industrial use. It was also meant to stimulate the region’s economy through the creation of jobs and the improvement in health due to clean water. The dam is 83m-high, 60m-wide at the foundation and 9m-wide at the top, with a crest length of 210m, which can hold 63.7 million cubic metres of water.
In his address, King Letsie III said MDWSP came into being following a government commissioned study on water resource management.
“The study, known as Lesotho Lowlands Water Supply Scheme (LWSS), recommended that urgent action needed to be taken to address the water supply challenges in the lowlands of Lesotho,” His Majesty said.
“The feasibility study confirmed that the lowland areas of Lesotho were already facing serious water shortages and that the situation would only get worse unless new water resources were developed.”
He said Maseru district had the most pressing water needs owing to rising population and rapid industrial growth.
“MDWSP was therefore fast-tracked to alleviate bulk water demand in five major towns, namely Maseru, Mazenod, Roma, Morija and Teyateyaneng,” said King Letsie III.
His Majesty also noted that the provision of bulk water to the five towns constituted the first phase of LWSS which aims to ultimately bring water to all communities living in the lowlands of the country.
On his part Dr Mosisili emphasized the need for the effective management of the water.
“This ceremony marks yet another milestone in Lesotho’s drive to increase supply of water to Basotho and our neighbours in the region,” he said.
“With the current uncertain weather patterns characterized by unprecedented drought, effective management of water has become even more imperative.”
He said the MDWSP would help cushion the blow of the current drought conditions by providing a sustainable supply of water to the major towns.
The premier said projects would also be undertaken to meet the water demand in agriculture and the industry, adding that plans were already afoot to launch such a programme in Hlotse and Makhaleng.