By Jude Michael
Ahead of the rainy season and in a bid to avert inland flooding, the Anambra State Government has called for desilting of gutters all over the state.
A statement by the Commissioner for Information, Sir Paul Nwosu, said the call was contained in a circular issued by the Commissioner for Environment, Dr Felix Odimegwu, in which every market, estate, park, layout, neighborhood, street, school, church, abattoir, shopping complex, plaza and all public spaces, was mandated to desilt all gutters and evacuate all silts with effect from last Friday, 23 February to Friday 15 March, 2024.
Given that the Public Health Law 2006 mandates that all owners of property must keep their drainages free of blockages of silt and sand, and allow for free drain of water through the canals and drainages, the statement disclosed that enforcement and prosecution would commence in due course, with severe penalty to the offenders as stipulated in the relevant laws.
It observed that the Year 2023 recorded reduced flooding and zero fatality as a result of proactive measures by the state government to desilt all major drainages, waterways, canals and gutters, and stressed the need to maintain a clean, green, healthy and sustainable environment in Anambra State.
