Community leader seeks govt collaboration in stopping erosion

CHAIRMAN, Works Committee, Ubahu Village, Amesi, Ifeanyi Olisa, has called on ndi Anambra to collaborate with the state government in preventing erosion menace currently ravaging parts of Anambra State. 

  “Prevention has proved to be better than cure. Anambra State terrain is prone to erosion and demands that all hands join government in preventing the menace.” 

  Mr Olisa made the call while interacting with newsmen during the Anambra State Environmental Cleanup Exercise on the Amesi – Uga – Ezinifite – Igboukwu Road. 

  According to him, in addition to the monthly exercise initiated by the state and federal governments, we carry out environmental activities in this village also on the last Thursdays of every month.  

  “We do that to ensure that all gutters, culverts and water channels are open for water to flow freely without hitches. 

  “The measure is to prevent flooding. Water flow is natural and If not properly directed, it will redirect itself and can wreak havoc,” he said. 

 “Other neighbouring towns such as Akpo, Achina and Nkpologwu are also trying in this regard. My plea is that we step up the effort. 

  “It is now mandatory for everybody to have storm or catchment pits within their compounds to take in excess flood waters in this village. This is to reduce the velocity in the flow of water into channels. 

  “We have also been emphasising tree planting in this village. The aim is to save our environment from degradation. 

  “Erosion is not something you allow to occur; it takes a lot of resources to manage once it starts happening. 

  “I am aware that Anambra has not less than  1,000 erosion sites. Even if erosion is the only responsibility of government, it may not have all the resources to attend to all of them. So, we need not to allow any more of such natural disasters,” Olisa advised. 

  He condemned ndi Anambra who dumped debris into gutters, thereby distorting the free flow of flood waters. 

  Mr Olisa described the act as sabotage to the government’s effort aimed at giving ndi Anambra a healthy environment. 

  “I plead with those in the habit of doing this to stop forthwith in your own interest and those of your loved ones. 

  “If preventable disasters like erosion are allowed to occur in any village, the devastation can adversely affect other people in other villages,” he said.