By Ndife David, Awka
Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Dr. Felix Odimegwu, has outlined proactive measures to mitigate climate change and effectively combat recurrent flooding and other major natural disasters plaguing communities, states, and the entire country.
He made this announcement yesterday in his office at the Jerome Udoji
Secretariat in Awka while calling for a more robust sensitization and
engagement drive on environmental protection and sustainability.
Dr. Odimegwu, opined that the menace and aftereffects of flooding and other natural disasters affecting the state and the entire country are avoidable if certain considerations are observed by relevant stakeholders. These conditions include encouraging continuous massive tree-planting exercises, as initiated by Governor Soludo, to promote afforestation, discouraging illegal sand mining and reckless housing development schemes along coastal areas prone to flooding, and ensuring proper land documentation and authorization for building development among individuals, communities, stakeholders, and the government.
Dr. Odimegwu maintained that
the highlighted considerations will go a long way in controlling erosion,
ensuring food security and ecosystem stability, boosting economic activities,
and encouraging climate regulation and protection of both natural habitats and
the management of land and mineral resources. "In order to completely save
lives and property and to escape the seemingly annual natural disasters,
residents, developers, and other relevant stakeholders must collaborate with
both the state and federal governments to forge a united front to bring a
lasting solution to the regularly occurring life-threatening situations,"
he said.
Engr. Odimegwu made it clear
that the Anambra State law on environmental protection, which insists on the
construction of catchment pits and green areas in new residential buildings in
the state, is non-negotiable. He noted the effectiveness of catchment pits in
channeling and draining water reserves after heavy rain, while green areas
function as windbreaks and improve aeration in the environment.
He lamented that besides the
annual flooding plaguing Anambra, erosion has also taken over 30% of the entire
state’s landmass. He noted that the negative impact of seasonal flooding,
climate change, and other natural disasters has far-reaching implications for
the future of citizens, communities, and the environment at large. He called on
all state actors to unite and collaborate with the government, sharing the
responsibility of committing fully to salvage the situation once and for all.
While advising the federal
government to construct more dams and dredge rivers to control water levels
during the rainy season, he commended the Emergency Service Agencies for
initiating prompt rescue and evacuation operations. He also called for a more
proactive approach beyond merely establishing the free distribution of relief
materials and setting up emergency centers for displaced persons.
Dr. Odimegwu further took the
opportunity to commend Anambra State Governor Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo
for working tirelessly to make Anambra the light of the nation. He also
applauded the staff of the State Environment Ministry for striving to safeguard
the environment, noting that their significant contributions to ensuring a good
living environment are yielding positive results.
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