Delta begins dredging of canals to prevent flooding
Delta State Government has begun the mass dredging of major canals across the state as part of pre-emptive measures to ensure the free flow of water to existing rivers and prevent flooding in Warri, Uvwie, Udu, Sapele, Ughelli and other vulnerable regions in the state.
The exercise, according to the Director-General, Special Duties, Delta State Government House, Frank Omare, is coming following the prediction of heavy flooding, particularly in some coastal states of Nigeria by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency.
Omare, while monitoring the clearing of the canals, which started from Effurun in Uvwie Local Government Area, down to Warri, Warri South Local Government Area of Delta on Friday, noted that “the state government is determined to do the right thing”.
He told journalists that the state Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, “is determined to do everything within his powers to ensure that flooding is a thing of the past in the state”.
The Director-General disclosed that “by next week, the state government is going to embark on the demolition of all illegal structures blocking all waterways in the state”.
He warned that no amount of pleading from anybody no matter how highly placed, will stop the demolition exercise.
Omare said, “For some weeks now, Government has been desilting some minor drainage in every street, which ought not to be because every resident in the state uses the drainage as their refuse dump.
“What DESOPADEC is doing now is that after desilting the drains, the water is supposed to flow to the major canals. But the canals are blocked by silt. This makes the water not to go anywhere.”
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