Okochi Village Okpuno, Awka South Council Area has embarked on palliative work on the erosion component of the road from back of Saint John’s Hotel Nodu Okpuno to Okochi Village Okpuno through Okochi Village Square to Obibia stream.
Flagging off the project, the Commissioner for Environmental, Engineer Felix Odimegwu commended the village stakeholders for their unity of purpose in initiating and embarking on the project.
Paul Ezeoke reports that Engineer Odimegwu said the initiative is in line with the policy of Governor Chukwuma Soludo in promoting public – private – community partnership in developing all parts of the state and uplifting quality of life of the people.
He assured the people that the state government would in no distant time extend interventions to the area while plans to reconstruct the road is ongoing, adding that reconstruction of the road with drainage system properly discharged into the nearby Obibia stream will provide permanent solutions to the challenge of erosion in the area.
The Commissioner lamented that the state presently has over one thousand active erosion sites including gully erosion in at least one hundred and sixty communities because of the state topography, soil texture and high intensity of flooding.
He explained that the state government is encouraging people to embrace preventive and intentional sustainable measures, stressing that property developers should provide green areas for planting of trees and grasses as well as dig wells for collection of runoff water.
Also speaking, the Managing Director Anambra State Erosion, Watershed and Climate Agency, Professor Philip Phil-Eze while commending the village for supporting government efforts, assured that the erosion control project will be properly designed to stand the test of time.
Earlier in a welcome address on behalf of the village, Sir Declan Egwuatu said the road named after the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, is very important because it will reduce environmental challenges in the area, link the area to the new Government Lodge, provide access to Government Migrant Farmer School, churches, industries, farms and steams, adding that over fifteen thousand public servants and indigenes live in the area.
He lauded Governor Soludo for being the first Governor to award the road for construction and expressed the hope that the project will soon be flagged off and interventions will also commence on various erosion sites to give people of the area a sense of belonging.
In their separate reactions, a former Permanent Secretary in the State civil service Comrade Leo Imoka and a landlord Elder Emma Nzomiwu said prompt intervention would save buildings in the area and enable farmers to evacuate their produce.
Many dignitaries withnessed the flag off including the Catholic Bishop of Awka, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor represented by the Parish Priest Saint Gabriel Parish Okpuno, Reverend Father Emmanuel Ofomata.
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