The Kwara House of Assembly has frowned at the indiscriminate dumping of refuse on drainages predisposing the state to flood.

This followed the adoption of a motion on notice titled “Need to Control Indiscriminate Dumping of Refuse on Drainages to Mitigate Flood in the State,” raised by the chairman of the House Committee on Health and Environment, Razaq Owolabi (APC/Share-Oke Ode).

Mr Owolabi, while leading the debate on the motion, drew the attention of his colleagues to the city currently littered with heaps of refuse at Kulende, Taiwo, Ipata, and Oja Oba areas, among others.

He pointed out that the state is among the states prone to flooding during this rainy season, as predicted by the National Meteorological Agency (NEMA)

He tasked the citizens of the state to be patriotic by avoiding unacceptable environmental practices.

Contributing, Lawal Salihu (APC/Malete-Ipaye-Oloru) and other lawmakers attributed the collapse of the culvert linking Shao-Malete in the Moro Local Government Area of the state to a drainage blockade occasioned by poor refuse disposal.

They urged residents to always evacuate drainages to guard against flooding.

Reading the resolutions of the house, the speaker, Yakubu Salihu (APC/Ilesha-Gwanara), urged Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to direct the state Ministry of Environment to equip Environmental Health Officers on the enforcement of penalties.

He advised the ministry to enforce penalties against anyone guilty of violating environmental laws.

The speaker called for collaboration between government and religious leaders to intensify advocacy and public enlightenment campaigns to reduce flood disasters. 

(NAN)