By Okey Maduforo Awka.
The last Tuesday heavy downpour that swept across the major towns in Anambra state yesterday submerged an estimated two thousand buildings in the commercial town of Onitsha as well as major markets in the state.
The flood which cut off major roads and vehicles in Onitsha also swept away goods of traders at the main market, Ochanja market and Oye – Agu Abagana markets respectively while vehicles were stocked for several hours far into the night as commuters lamented over their predicaments .
The flood also carried large supply of debris from the upper part of Onitsha to the lower plane heading towards the River Niger only to hang up at blocked water channels.
To this end Gov Charles Soludo has ordered the relevant departments and his Aides to commence work in Onitsha and make proper assessment of the remote and immediate causes .
In compliance to the governor’s order the Secretary of Onitsha South local government area Mr Paul Onuachala who carried out inspection of the area noted that the flood is caused by blocked water channels being perpetrated by residents of the town who empty their wastes into the drains thereby blocking the flow of water .
Onuachala however announced that a fifty years old bridge with narrow water channels is the cause of the flood announcing that the bridge is currently being demolished and a new one being constructed as well as widening the water channels.
“The thing actually harvested a lot of wastes along that line and automatically block the water channels”
“Towards Genis bread side there is a colvert there that was equally blocked and that also contributed to what is happening”
“We are demolishing the bridge and we are constructing a new bridge along Genis bread that would empty into the River Niger and that will empty the Ochanga and lower part of that area quicker “
“We are going to widen the water channel to accommodate water and flood during this rainy season”
“These flood carrying debris from the upper part of Onitsha a d given our topography it follows from upper Onitsha down to the lower part of Onitsha to the River Niger”
“This is an old bridge because by the time the bridge was constructed the population of Onitsha was not the same with the population that we have now and that bridge was constructed about fifty years ago ” he said.
Reacting to the disaster the Anambra Commissioner for Environment Engr Felix Odumegwu said that the Ministry is working with the Ministry of Works as well as the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra aka OCHA Brigade to address the situation and ensure a permanent solution to the problem.
“We have contacted the Commissioner for works and we are carrying out the desilting of the drains “
“When the rain sets in the first few rains present this type of difficulty sometimes because of some areas where there are blockages but along the line it would ease off after identifying the areas that we have problems and take care of them “
“Since February we have been announcing to people to start desilting their drains because of the coming rains and we set out a deadline and the OCHA brigade has been mandated to carry out enforcements but we are gout around and you noticed that yesterday we were on the streets and all efforts are being made to ensure that we do not witness this kind of thing again”
“Any man made causes of flooding will not happen a d we a are taking proactive measures in that area”
“We are aware of the fact that there would be flooding this year and we have been carrying out sensitization campaigns at the targeted areas and as a government we are on too of the situation ” he said.
