By Ononye VC
The Anambra State government under the leadership of Prof. Chukwuma Soludo acted swiftly last week when it halted the grabbing of a massive piece of government land acquired at the Owelle Ebo layout decades ago for the development of municipal water supply to parts of Onitsha.
The government was alerted when bulldozers, thugs and some interested persons yet to be made public descended on the land and started the demolition of government structures and other equipment inside the premises.
The land area, which was fenced to avoid encroachment, contained a ground level water reservoir of 3 million gallons of water fed from Nkissi Water Works when operational.
There are other buildings used for offices as well as many industrial boreholes inside the premises which have been destroyed.
It was gathered that the deputy governor of Anambra State, Dr Ibezim, led a crack team to the scene and stopped the illegal work going on in the place.
Stakeholders in the water sector have alleged that there has been a coordinated ploy by some people in government and by community leaders in Onitsha to erase the availability of pipeborne water in Onitsha and its environs following the massive sale, encroachment and grabbing of water corporation properties in Onitsha and Anambra State in general.
Accusing fingers point seriously at officials of the Ministry of Lands and Department of Public Utilities in Anambra State for complicity as they have folded their hands and watched government property being sold to private individuals.
