Drainage Blockage: Anambra Govt. Seals Off Shops, Issues Evacuation Notice On Shops Constructed On Drainages
The Managing Director, Operation Clean And Healthy Anambra, OCHA Brigade Comrade Celestine Anere has sealed off shops in Eke Awka market for non-compliance to Anambra state Sanitation Law.
Comrade Anere also issued evacuation notices to traders who illegally constructed their shops on drainages.
The OCHA Brigade boss during an inspection tour of the market revealed that the agency two months ago wrote to the market leadership to expedite actions in decongesting all drainage system around the market and explained that inability to carry out the function led to the sealing off of the shops where drainages that passed through their shops were blocked.
The move, according to the OCHA Brigade commandant, is to put an end to flooding on Zik Avenue axis of the old Enugu -Onitsha Expressway and went further to make it clear that all shops whose drainage systems are blocked will not be open until they are properly cleared.
While saying that the operation will be done in phases, he maintained that it is in line with the Soludo administration’s plan for the regeneration of the state capital.
He called on citizens to imbibe the culture of caring for their surroundings instead of waiting for government.
On the practice of loading and offloading of passengers and goods and services on major roads, Comrade Anere, warned that operatives of the agency will commence confiscating vehicles who flout traffic rules.
He also warned developers against stacking building materials on the roads as it constitutes can lead to the blockage of drainages.
Commending the doggedness of the agency, a resident of Awka, Mr. Osita Obi frowned at citizens who share the opinion that it is the responsibility of government to desilt drainages and called for attitudinal change as a way to assist the government in the development of the state.
Responding, the Chairman of St. Mary’s Traders, Mr. Obinna Umah appreciated the state government for reawakening their consciousness towards their environment especially the drainage system and used the opportunity to call the attention of the state government to the opening of tunnel at the Ogbo Olu-Timber for proper channelling to ensure that their hard work on desilting the drainage is not a total waste.
The agency rounded up the inspection visit of drainage system with discouraging road trading from Eke Awka to Oye Amawbia.
