Chronicle EditorVusumuzi Dube, Online News Editor
COWDRAY Park residents and stand beneficiaries whose properties sit on water courses and flood plains are set to be relocated as part of measures aimed at addressing perennial flooding that affects the suburb during the rainy season.
Last year it was reported that 500 houses in different suburbs in Bulawayo face possible displacement after they were affected by floods following heavy and incessant rains that were received. According to a breakdown of the developments availed to Sunday News, Cowdray Park had the highest figure with 429 houses and 88 stands facing possible displacement as they were constructed on wetland areas.
According the Bulawayo City Council’s latest report, 17 houses in the suburb have been identified for immediate relocation for the creation and registration of drainage servitudes through the stands. This is part of intervention mechanisms to alleviate flooding in the suburb.
“Cowdray Park Hlalani Kuhle development had a total of 101 kilometres of proposed road network and only 1,2 kilometres had been formally constructed. Flooding problems in Hlalani Kuhle development was attributed to lack of roads, storm water drainage and the allied structures that is culverts, shelverts and bridges.
“It was noted that some stands were located within water courses or within flood plain which made it impossible to provide a sustainable urban drainage system. The storm water drainage system would direct surface water runoff from the stands and road surface into natural watercourses,” reads the report.
As part of measures to alleviate the flooding, the local authority said they will urgently install storm water drainage and associated structures on the partially constructed roads while ensuring that the newly installed drainage ultimately discharges to existing watercourses.
“Where possible the route for the proposed storm water drainage will necessitate the diversion of the water course but there were some locations where it was not possible to intercept the watercourse and change its direction. In such a case drainage servitude was required within stands that were located within the water course. It was noted that stand sizes were on average 200 square metres.
“Beneficiaries of stands 18666, 18667, 18668, 18712, 18853, 18852, 20143, 20144, 20145, 20113, 20074, 20060, 20061, 20062, 20063, 19837 and 19807 to be relocated with the creation and registration of drainage servitudes through these stands,” reads the report.
In terms of where these owners will be relocated to, the local authority revealed that council departments were in liaison in the identification of vacant stands.
“The stands due for relocation were at different levels of development. The Town Planning Department would conduct evaluation and thereafter necessary compensations would be done accordingly.
Council would channel a percentage of the Devolution Funds towards the relocation costs. It was further explained that the area in question had 15 525 stands and out of these only 31 percent had a sewer reticulation system. Cowdray Park was a ticking time bomb, in the event that the sewer system collapsed there would be an outbreak of diseases that which would affect the entire city,” reads the report.
According to the Environmental Management Act (Chapter 20:27) Section 113, EMA is mandated to prosecute anyone found carrying out any activity that is likely to cause degradation of a wetland without authority from the agency. Already, demolitions have been executed on houses built on wetlands and on areas illegally acquired by land barons in Harare and Chitungwiza.
Online Reporter