KZN Environmental Affairs MEC fumes over Uvongo River pollution crisis
The Environmental Affairs MEC has
issued a directive to Ugu District to sort out the sewage spill in Uvongo.
It's led to pollution in the Uvongo River as well as the beach.
MEC Ravi Pillay visited the sites yesterday and inspected two sewage pump stations that had been overflowing.
It's been established that a damaged pipeline connecting the two stations to a wastewater treatment facility is causing the spillage.
The department's Bheki Mbanjwa says there are measures to limit the impact on the environment.
“MEC Pillay expressed concern that the situation has been left to go on for weeks. This is why this department issued this directive as a formal administrative enforcement. While the department has a right to pursue criminal enforcement, we hope that it does not come to that,” Mbanjwa said.
He added that all stakeholders, including the municipality and contractors on site have ensured the department that the problem is receiving immediate attention.
“The department is satisfied, there is work on the way to install a temporary line which will the immediate problem,” Mbanjwa said.
