…By Ndife David, Awka.

Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Dr. Felix Edimegwu has issues 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 revelation yesterday in his office at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat Awka while calling for more robust sensitization and engagement drive on environmental protection and sustainability.

Dr Felix opined that the menace and after effects of flooding and other natural disasters plaguing the state and the entire country is avoidable if certain consideration are observed by relevant stakeholders.

These conditions includes encouraging continuous massive tree planting exercise as initiated by Governor Soludo to encourage afforestation, discouraging illegal sand mining and reckless housing development scheme along coastal areas prune to flooding, ensuring proper land documentation and authorization for building development amongst others by individual, community, stakeholders and the government

Dr Odimegwu maintained that the highlighted consideration will go a long way in controlling erosion, ensuring food security and ecosystem stability, boost economic activities and encourage climate regulation and protection of both natural habitation and management of both land and mineral resources.

“in order to completely save lives and property and equally escape the seemingly annual natural disasters, residents, developers and other relevant stakeholders must collaborate with both the state and federal government to forge a united front to bring a lasting solution to the regular occuring life threatening situations, he said!”

Engr Odimegwu made it clear that the Anambra State law on environmental protection which insist on the construction of catchment pit and green areas in new residential buildings in the state is non-negotiable, noting the work of the catchment pit in effectively channelling and draining water reserve after heavy rain and the green areas in functioning as both wind breaks and good aeration system in the environment.

He lamented that besides the annual flooding plaguing Anambra, erosion has also taken over 30% of the entire state landmass.

He noted that the negative impact of the seasonal flooding, climate change and other natural disasters has far-reaching implications on the future of citizens, communities and environment at large. He called on all state actors to unite and collaborate with the government with the shared responsibility of committing completely to salvage the situation once and for all.

While advising the federal government to construct more dams and dredge rivers to control the water level during the rainy season, He commended the Emergency Service Agencies for initiating prompt rescue and evacuation operations and called for more proactive approach beyond establishing free distribution of relief materials and setting up of emergency centres for the displaced persons.

Dr. Odimegwu further ceased the opportunity to commend the Anambra State Governor Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo for working tirelessly to make Anambra the light of the Nation. He also applauded staffs of the State Environment Ministry for striving to safeguard the environment, noting that significant contribution in ensuring a good living environment is yielding positive results.