Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has warned officials of the Ministry of Lands, Surveys and Urban Development to stop issuing building approval certificates to property developers without visiting their sites to be sure they are not on roads or water ways.
The Governor, who gave the warning in Asaba while receiving the final Preliminary Report of the Committee set up to study and advice government on measures to be taken to tackle flooding in Warri, Effurun and the environs, said any official found wanting would be sanctioned.
He said the state government was set to demolish structures on waterways, especially in Warri, Uvwie and the environs, stressing that it was challenging to get flood water properly discharged from the towns and cities, especially during the rainy season.
Governor Okowa charged the relevant authorities to do the needful as any building without approved plan would be brought down.
The Governor stated that for any marked building, the owner must stop work on site for demolition to be enforced in order to reduce the level of flooding in Warri, Effurun and its environs.
He explained that the measure being taken in Warri, Uvwie and the environs was as a result of the issues raised by residents during town hall meetings and the state government was committed to starting the project.
Governor Okowa spoke of plans to convene a stakeholders meeting to discuss the issue because of the high number of property on the waterways, insisting that government must bring such structures down to save the people from the menace of flooding.
Earlier, Engineer John Onwualu, in his presentation, observed that “large part of the flooding in Warri, Uvwie and the environs was caused by blocked drains, overgrown weeds on water channels, and developers building on natural waterways.
He disclosed that 101 flood prone areas and 13 natural courses had been identified in the Warri, Effurun area.
Members of the committee include, Engineer Joe Omatsola, Chief Emmanuel Okumagba, among others
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