By John Oghojafor
The Delta State government has embarked on proactive control measures to checkmate possible flooding following the warnings and alert from Nimet for Nigerians to take necessary precautions to avert disasters as water level rises in different parts of the country.
Fielding questions from newsmen in Oghara recently, the State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Barr. John Nani stated that the government has deployed men and machines in some parts of Ethiope West, Ughelli North and Isoko North, adding that heavy duty machines were on duty to open up blocked waterways, canals and drains to allow for free flow of water.
He disclosed that the state government has deployed swamp boggey and other earth-moving equipment to Oghareki in Ethiope West, Agbarho in Ughelli North and Araya (the Bible Town) in Isoko North where they are clearing waterways, channels and drains to prevent the 2011 flooding disaster which affected most part of the state.
At Oghareki in Ethiope West, The New Diplomat observed special earth-moving equipment and workers of the Ministry of Environment opening water canals that lead to the river to enable free flow of water from flood prone areas of the town.
At Otefe, the Polytechnic town also in Ethiope West, workers were busy constructing drainages to check road flooding whenever it rains. The Commissioner also disclosed that work is in progress at Agbarho where a canal is being opened up to drain water from different parts of the town into the river.
The Commissioner also disclosed that swamp boogy equipment has been deployed to the Bible Town of Araya in Isoko North to clear canals and open up drainages in the area.
He called on Deltans to clear their drains to prevent flooding as the next few months will witness heavy rainfall with its attendant effect.
Nani also informed that, in line with the announcement of environmental sanitation billed for June ending, the ministry embarked on evacuation of refuse dumped in public places in some parts of the state, warning that the government would come hard on those who block drainages with refuse dumps.
It would be recalled that the 2011 flooding disaster that swept across some parts of the country affected the state seriously leading to the problem of displaced persons in most parts of the state.
