The Delta State Government will in the coming days begin the demolition of buildings and other illegal structures erected on natural water channels in Warri, Uvwie, Udu, Sapele, Ughelli and other parts of the state as part of its flood control measure.
The newly appointed Delta State Director-General, Special Duties, Chief Frank Omare disclosed on Saturday while inspecting some of the structures posing as obstacles to the ongoing construction of the stormwater project being executed by the state government in the Warri/Uvwie area.
The last time a major step was taken by the Delta State Government to decisively deal with the flood menace in the Warri area and other parts of the state as regards blockage of natural water channels by illegal structures was in the administration of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan with Chief Frank Omare as the Commissioner for Environment.
Now under the incumbent administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, Chief Omare is again saddled amongst others with the responsibility to open up natural water channels that have been blocked over the years with the attendant consequence of flooding with just a little rain.
Before the bulldozers and other heavy equipment start rolling out in the coming days to pull down buildings and other structures blocking water channels across the state, Chief Omare in the company of the Surveyor for JEFCON, the company handling the Warri/Uvwie Storm Water project, Mr Emordi Ikechukwu, inspected some of the obstacle areas to the project.
At Ugboroke Layout a private-storey building and a church on Nemejor Street and Auntie Rose Street were among the structures to be pulled down.
On the NNPC Housing Complex road, some buildings under construction on a water channel around a new Estate were also identified for demolition.
At the Ekpan Roundabout, a storey building constructed not quite long, but sitting on a channel from which other drains in the area discharge water to the Ekpan River was marked demolition.
Chief Omare equally ordered those who converted part of the water channel to wood market, to vacate the place or risk their materials destroyed.
Chief Omare and his team also inspected some water channels at Uti Street and Okoribi in Alegbo area of Effurun, where he said he will be very firm in the discharge of his duty warning that nobody will be above the law.
He asked those with genuine documents of approval for their buildings to forward them to his office for verification with the appropriate authorities.
The DG Special Duties explained that for any building with genuine proof, the owner will be compensated for the building to be pulled down to allow for the free flow of water.
Chief Omare advised those affected to quickly relocate as there will be no formal notice before the bulldozers move in to bring the illegal structures down, adding that he will not succumb to blackmail in carrying out his duty.
