The state has improved on flood and erosion control through collaboration with the Environmental Conservation, Agriculture and Rural Development Agency (ECARD).
This was revealed when the officials of the Agency paid a courtesy call on the Bayelsa State Directorate of Flood and Erosion Control in Yenagoa.
Surveyor Wilson Omuso, Director General of the Directorate, said the agency had increased its interventions in the number of drainage channels from nine at inception to 54.
According to him, this year’s desilting exercise has commenced in Yenagoa and environs with over 30 percent of the process completed.
Also according to Omuso, the Directorate will desilt Epie creek based on the information gathered from drone survey on the creek and found that there were blockages which were inhibiting the passage of water.
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The Director General further stated that the Directorate had conducted pilot higher-ground project in four communities, which will soon be extended after evaluations.
The Director General revealed that a bill to establish the Directorate has been sent to the government for legislation.
Morris Alagoa, COO of ECARD, applauded the dedication of the government towards flood prevention measures, adding that the organization needed to get more legal muscle and form strategic alliances with organizations like NDDC and South-South Development Commission.
Henry Adike, Programme Manager, appealed for cooperation between government departments to avoid infrastructure development hindering drainage systems.
