THE ARTICLE “How City can counter water shortage” (Cape Argus, March 6) by Lester September is compulsory reading for every councillor.
Failure to take timely action, as happened with the current water crisis, burdens daily existence, impedes economic growth, scares tourists and reflects poorly on those mandated to foresee problems and have advanced plans in place.
I agree wholeheartedly with that.
On November 3 I sent a five-page letter to the Interim Planning Committee explaining in great detail why the city should not countenance the application for rezoning of 12 portions of erven 558 in Philippi.
The two ANC members abstained and it was left to the ACDP and Cope to vote against the application.
Growth is essential but it can never be at the expense of ecology and the environment.
The future is certainly going to be daunting because of long-term water scarcity.
Furthermore, land subsidence and salt water ingress into the aquifers will leave us more challenged.
I pointed out previously how the very centre of Mexico City, which houses the city hall, is sinking because of excess water extraction and inadequate recharging of the aquifer it sits on.
At that point, residents will start demanding why the council had not foreseen the problem and taken appropriate measures.