BY BENSON OKOBI-ALLANAH
THE decision by the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA) to begin night monitoring of residents of the capital city of Asaba, that dump refuse indiscriminately mostly in the early hours of the morning and in the midnight, and create another dumpsite in the state capital to supplement the existing one at the back of Immigration Office in Asaba, has been commended highly by some concerned residents of the capital city.
Leading in the commendation is the Founder/National Coordinator of One Good Turn Support Group (ONGOTSUG), Prince Ben OBCA Nwaobi Okonya, who described the move as a right step in the right direction and apt, said it was becoming a thing of disgrace and embarrassment seeing Asaba, once known to be very neat, all of a sudden being taken over by refuse.
Nwaobi Okonya, who is also the General Manager / Editor-In-Chief of Nowadays Newspaper, pointed out that the upsurge in indiscriminate dumping of refuse began when the capital city started witnessing rise in population as many people started settling in the city.
He said he had always wondered why the DSCTDA also known as Asaba Capital Territory now under the watch of the Director-General, Chief Patrick Ukah, had not woken up from its slumber to tackle the menace of any how dumping of refuse in a city playing host to the government of the state and where different visitors to the state are received almost on daily basis.
He says he used to feel shame any time he drives into Asaba, and he starts seeing all manners of stomach-churning refuse and others eye-sores reckless displayed on the road median, street corners and the main road, and calls on the authorities that de-silted the Ogbeogonogo Market drainage recently to help in evacuating the debris that lined up the front of the market.
The Founder/National Coordinator of the socio-political group also called on residents of the capital city who are in the habit of dumping refuse anyhow, to desist from such act as they are not pigs. He says they should always patronize the Private Sector Participants (PSPs) who on being paid, evacuate the refuse to the authorized dumpsites; and pleaded with the PSPs official to always respond to calls by residents who seek for their services instead of allowing refuse to spill over the bins before responding to their calls.
He said those appointed as taskforce members to be monitoring during the night should take their job seriously and ensure that those arrested are brought to book without compromising in their job.
Miss. Helen Obum, a trader at the Midwifery Market, Okpanam Road, hailed the decision with some mixed-feelings. She says why she is being skeptical about the whole idea is that sometimes government will come out with some brilliant plans without pursuing them to their logical ends. She, therefore, asked them to implement their actions with all seriousness.
