The Mier Municipality has received more than R630 million for the construction of the Kalahari East Water Scheme which will bring relief to the severely drought stricken area.

The funding came from the Regional Bulk Infrastructure Grant (RBIG) of the Department of Water and Sanitation in the Northern Cape.

According to Keletso Kgarane who is the RBIG manager in the Kimberley provincial office the 150 km long pipeline will stretch 69 km from Cramond to Askham, 56 km from Askham to Groot Mier and 46 Km from Groot Mier to Philandersbron.

The water project also includes the construction of a 21million litre storage reservoir to ensure sustainable water supply to water consumers in the area.

Mier Municipality used to have an abundance of water German missionaries visited the area a long time ago, they found the pans in the area full of water that they called them “mere” which means “lakes”. As language changed, the people later pronounced it as “Mier”.

Today, places like Groot Mier, Klein Mier, Loubos, Philandersbron and Rietfontein groundwater levels have declined by five to ten metres.

Contributing factors are not just drought but other natural phenomena such as global warming, heat wave weather conditions and as population grows over the years.

The first phase of the Kalahari East Water Scheme project started last year May 2015 and is envisaged to be completed in June 2016.

It will benefit over 2 500 households which results in about 10 412 beneficiaries. The water project has also already created 177 jobs for the locals and is further expected to open other economic opportunities such as improved livestock and agricultural farming as.