BY IFY ACHUGBUE
DELTA State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA), in collaboration with the State Waste Management Board and Taskforce on Environment, on Monday, flagged off a one-month special clean up exercise and enforcement of premises sanitation within the Capital Territory.
The exercise was flagged off by the Director General of the agency, Chief Patrick Ukah, flanked by the Executive Chairman of the Delta State Waste Management Board, Hon Matthew Mofe Edema, the Chairman, State Taskforce on Environment, Chief Godspower Asiuwhu.
In his remarks, Chief Ukah recalled that notice for the exercise was given sometime last year, but was delayed to give residents enough time to comply with the set rules and regulations.
According to him, the exercise would involve the cleanup of selected areas, sensitization of residents on sanitation best practices, premises inspection, provision of waste bins, and PSP registration.
The monitoring team would also be looking out for painting of fences, beautification of setbacks, which must not be within 15 meters from the road, provision of security lights, clearing of overgrown grasses and others.
The DG urged residents of the Capital City not to wait to be compelled to clean up their surroundings, as that would attract sanctions, adding that a Mobile Court was in place to prosecute offenders.
Chief Ukah commended the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Asagba Prof Epiphany Azinge, for his interest in the cleanliness of Asaba and for seeking to flush out miscreants and criminal elements from the state capital.
He appealed to residents to be more serious with the issue of security, insisting that they must be concerned about the manner of persons living in their neighborhood.
On his part, the Executive Chairman, Delta State Waste Management Board, Hon Matthew Mofe Edema called on residents in Asaba and environs to register with PDPs assigned to cover their area stressing that anyone caught disposing waste along the road, market place or churches will face the wrath of the law. “I am calling on all residents to register with a PSP assigned to cover your area so that we can have a cleaner and better society. Our taskforce is ready as they are already monitoring the situation and anyone caught, the law will catch up with you” , he said
Also speaking, the Chairman, State Taskforce on Environment, Chief Godspower Asiuwhu, stressed the need for residents of the State Capital Territory to imbibe the environmental best practices and pledged their total support for the cleanup exercise.
The Ihonor of Asaba, Chief Patrick Ndili, who spoke on behalf of the Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof Epiphany Azinge, commended the critical stakeholders for the initiative; pointing out that Asaba community had resolved to complement the efforts of the state government in different ways, including environmental cleanliness and operation know your tenant or neighbour, to enhance security. The Asagba- in- Council was fully represented on the occasion, which was also replicated in Okpanam.
