ALBERTON may be in for a serious makeover (not for the better) with massive electric pylons set to be built throughout the CBD.
According to several sources, Eskom did not follow due process or go through any of the necessary channels when approving the plans.
Initial plans to build power lines did include Alberton as one of the possible alternatives, an option which was from the beginning strongly opposed by Alberton residents and the Alberton division of the Ekurhuleni City Planning Department. But it is claimed that this option would be cheaper and easier for Eskom, in spite of there being two other alternative routes that could have been taken and that would have had much less of an impact on Alberton.
If the plans are approved, the pylons will now be built along the N12 highway, straddling houses on Marthinus Oosthuizen Street in Alberton North, and cut through the Alberton CBD, between the Alberton Civic Centre and the Natalspruit across from it.
Alberton will not benefit from any of the electricity produced by these pylons, but will have to put up with the deterioration of the character of the town, as well as lowering of the value of property. There will also be years of aggravation caused by building dust and noise, electronic interference that may be caused, and of course the possible health risks this will pose.
“I have been busy on this issue for years, and I’m trying to make the public aware and collect petition signatures to get Eskom to place the power lines underground instead, since it seems that they intend to bulldoze their way through, in spite of all the opposition,” says Alderman Bruna Haipel.
“I have organised public participation meetings and the community is very unhappy about the proposed pylons,” adds Haipel.
According to one of the home owners in Alberton North, who will be affected, Eskom is putting pressure on them to give the go-ahead, and saying that the erecting of pylons has already been approved, which appears not to be the case. The project has still to go through the Mayoral Committee and Oversight.
Former ward councillor, Alderman Estelle Visser, says it seems like the processes are being avoided so as to force the plans through.
The law states that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) must be done and that the holder of the authorisation must notify all interested and affected parties in writing within 10 days, specify dates of authorisation, advise parties of the appeals process, give reasons for the decision, etc, none of which was done.
“We ask that any attorneys of law that have knowledge of these matters, please contact myself or Bruna Haipel to donate their time and share some of their skills so we can fight this, as it will adversely affect everyone in Alberton, should the plans go ahead,” says Visser.
The RECORD contacted the EMM and Eskom several times over a period of a month, but received no comment.
We ask our readers to let us know what they think of this, by emailing us at davidp@caxton.co.za.
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