Maravi

ECZ approves EIA for Luena farm bloc

ECZ approves EIA for Luena farm bloc
By Kabanda Chulu
Tuesday April 01, 2008 [04:00]

THE Environmental Council of Zambia (ECZ) has approved the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the 100,000 hectares Luena farm bloc in Kawambwa that will be opened up for sugar plantations and factory. And Luapula Province acting permanent secretary Clement Siame has said the government has allocated K700 million for the development of the road network in the Lusenga Plains National Park in Kawambwa.

During the financial and business writers’ tour of Luapula Province last week, Kawambwa district commissioner Wilbroad Mumba said with the approval of the EIA, 10,000 hectares would be given to an investor to set up a sugar factory while the rest of the farm land would be distributed to villagers for the development of the out-grower schemes.

He said so far, some Libyan investors had declared interest in the project.
“The rest of the land will be allocated to villagers and other local people who in turn will develop out-grower schemes and sale the produce to the main investor who will set up the factory,” he said.

Mumba said that Ministry of Finance permanent secretary for planning James Mulungushi recently visited the farm block to check on the feasibility studies for developing the roads and construction of dams.

And Siame said there was need to open the Lusenga Plains National Park through construction of good roads and telecommunications network.

“For this reason government has allocated K700 million to cater for the development of a total of 240 kilometres of the road network inside the national park and we have engaged Nemcon, a local contractor to do the work when the rain season is finished,” said Siame.

Labels: ECZ

posted by MrK @ 6:27 AM