Maseru __ Phase II of Lesotho Highlands Water Project, whose progress was anticipated to be at 57 percent by this time stands at 48 percent thus is behind by 10 percent.

This was disclosed by Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) Chief Executive Mr. Tente Tente during LHDA, Media Press Club held in Maseru with the objective to strengthen relations between the two parties.

Mr. Tente indicated that the construction of the dam is a bid behind as it was planned at 50 percent but stands at 37 percent.

However, he said overall, the project saw employees of 16, 400 skilled and unskilled, saying 14 954 are Basotho.

He further acknowledged that while LHDA is faced with some challenges, there are significant achievements which include transformed livelihoods and relocation of communities with care, saying under Phase II, 296 households are earmarked for resettlement with 21 already resettled successfully.

He added that in Phase I (a), about 374 households were resettled, under phase I (b) 321, indicating that to date, more than 600 million has been paid for compensations, M417 Million of which is under phase I and about M160 Million under phase II.

He emphasised that beyond the compensations, the project has been beyond the cornerstone of Lesotho's physical strength, saying monthly revenues range between M300 to M400 million.

He also said in phase I alone, over a thousand kilometres of road networks have been constructed in-country, opening Lesotho highlands to sectors of economic activities in the lowlands and beyond.

" More than 16 000 Basotho gained employment and received over 1 billion in wages, over 40 classrooms were built across 16 schools, and several health facilities were constructed" he added, saying over M 1.2 billion went into procurement of goods and services from Basotho businesses.

LHDA was established with the objective to amongst others, develop and manage water resources for the benefit of Lesotho and South Africa as well as to ensure efficient transfer of high-quality water to SA, and generate electricity for the country.