From: Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
The Bayelsa State Government has concluded plans to move against residents of Yenagoa causing the blockage of drains thereby leading to flooding of several parts of the state capital.
The month of June has been terrible for many residents of Yenagoa as the heavy down pour had caused serious floods, thus sacking many people from their homes.
The state government said it was ready to checkmate incessant flooding in some parts of the state capital and warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse, blockage of the drains and illegal structures along drainage lines.
Chief of Staff, Government House, Rt. Hon. Talford Ongolo, who led other top government functionaries including Commissioner of Information and Orientation, Hon. Jonathan Obuebite, Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Lawrence Ehwrujakpor, Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Williams Alamene, on an on-the-spot assessment to some areas being ravaged by flood, said the state government would not watch residents of the state capital suffer because of the conduct of few people.
Ongolo, who expressed concern over the issue of flood recorded in some parts of the state, assured residents of the affected areas and other parts of the state of the administration’s commitment to put an end to the menace.
According to him, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson has set up an inter-ministerial committee to look into the issue of flooding in the state and proffer a lasting solution.
He disclosed that relevant government agencies have commenced work on the clearing of drainages for free flow of water and called for the collaborative efforts of the people in the state at ensuring that the issue of flooding becomes a thing of the past.
Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Lawrence Ehwrujakpo, in his remarks, said the government would adopt a short term measure of clearing the drainage and channeling it to a particular point.
He, however, warned that any resident caught violating the state environmental law would be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Ehwrujakpo who accused some Bayelsans of building houses on canals which has affected free flow of water in the natural channels and subsequently resulting into flooding in the affected areas threatened that government will not hesitate to demolish houses that are blocking the canals.