The issue of flooding in Umuahia will soon be a thing of the past as the State Government has commenced the disilting of blocked drainages in Umuahia Urban Municipal Council,to ensure free flow of storm water during the coming rainy season.
Speaking to journalists while flagging off the exercise in the Abia State Capital,the General Manager,Abia State Roads Maintenance Agency (ABROMA), Engr. Okochi Okali, said the exercise was part of the state government’s infrastructural development drive to maintain already existing infrastructures.
He noted that the exercise was neccessary as some of the drainages in the state capital have not been disilted for some years back thus giving rise to the issue of flooding during the rainy season.
“Governor Okezie Ikpeazu had been on a drive for infrastructural development and one of the drives for infrastructural development is to maintain the already existing ones.
“I also learnt that for so many years after the building of Umuahia Municipal Town, some of the drainages have never been touched so the government thought it wise to make sure all the drainages are opened to ensure free flow of water so that flood in the coming rainy season will not be damaging”,he said.
Okali, hinted that the clean up exercise will be done in phases and will equally run simultaneously in parts of the state, adding that it is done in collaboration with a private company.
He assured residents that the exercise is not meant to witch hunt anybody but to ensure that drainages are cleaned up for proper channelling of storm water.
His words: “We are not here to destroy anybody’s property, we are here to make sure that drainages are well channeled to avoid further damages”.
The ABROMA boss disclosed that the operation zero pothole initiative of the state government is on course across the state, adding that the agency is handling areas that need the most attention.
Also speaking, the contractor handling the disilting of drainages in Umuahia and it’s environs, Chief Eme Ndubuisi said work had already commenced in parts of the state,assuring that they will deliver before the expiration of the 10 months deadline given to them by the state government.
While calling for cooperation and support from landlords and residents within Umuahia Urban Council area to enable them achieve their goal,the contractor warned residents to desist from dumping refuse in drainages as it obstructs free flow of water, adding that penalty awaits defaulters.
In his contribution, a landlord on behalf of residents of the area thanked the state government for coming to their rescue with the commencement of the exercise in Umuahia Municipal Council noting that they experience heavy flooding as a result of blocked drainages whenever it rains.
