FARMERS who think they can pull a fast one on the Department of Water Affairs beware — eye-in-the-sky technology is keeping track of you!
This warning was delivered by Water Affairs Minister Ronnie Kasrils on Friday in an address made at the opening the debate on his department’s budget vote in the National Assembly.
”I give notice here to all those who sought to stake a claim… by unreasonable expansion of irrigation in dry areas where there is simply not enough water, that they are wasting their time and money.
”Eye-in-the-sky technology is keeping track of you, and our satellite images will very quickly prove who is using water lawfully and who is taking a chance.”
Water use in South Africa is controlled under the National Water Act of 1998. The act requires all bulk users of water ? including industries, irrigation farmers and municipalities — to be registered. More than 46 000 users have been registered to date.
Kasrils said his department had budgeted R5-million in the current financial year to buy satellite data, and had set aside a further R2-million to use it. Some of the images dated back to 1998, when the act was passed.
”In case there are water users who think that because they are far away from Pretoria they will be able to escape the new laws, bad luck!” Kasrils said. – Sapa