THE two Final Basic Assessment Reports (FBARs) for the proposed Pongola-Candover and Golela 132kV power lines submitted to the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA), on Friday, 7 February for a final ,were rejected by the DEA.
The department has called for additional information within six months, failing which the whole process will have to be scrapped.
Zitholele Consulting are collecting the additional information and requirements as set out in the DEA’s letter and are hoping to have Amended FBARs available for public review by mid to end May.
Requirements include the exact positioning of the temporary roads required for the erection of the power lines giving starting, middle and end coordinates as well as the lengths, widths and location of existing roads.
The department has also requested copies of the comments received from the Department of Agriculture and Environmental Affairs, Department of Water Affairs, uPhongola Local Municipality and the Provincial Heritage Resources Agency as these were omitted from the BAR.
Proof of asking for comment and any follow-up requests must also be supplied.
Response to mitigation measures
Written comments were received from the Zimanga Private Game Reserve, uPhongola Local Municipality, Zululand District Municipality, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, Somkhanda Nature Reserve, Manzini Game Ranch, Hlambanathi Game Reserve and Pongola Game Reserve after their issues of 12 September had been addressed.
The developers were also warned that no activity can begin prior to an environmental authorisation being granted by the department under the National Environmental Management Act.
Can somebody phone me please? I have a nice story in mtubatuba where work have been done that is illegal and municipal manager said in public meeting he is carry on.Residents in affected area is upset but can do nothing