The Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA has said that the removal of illegal structures constructed on sanitary drains in Uwani and its environs will commence shortly.
Rt. Hon. Uche Anya, the Chairman of ECTDA stated this over the weekend when he held a townhall meeting with the landlords, managers and caretakers of the various houses in the area.
He said the action became necessary following the menace of flooding in the area which if left unchecked, could lead to a very serious disaster.
According to him “whenever it rains, from Bigard to Onwudiwe down to Robbinson is flooded because the drainages through which the downpour is expected to run through have been built on.
“These drains that were designed by Michael Okpara has been built on and this administration wants those lanes reestablished to control flooding in this city centre.
“The big water way at Robbinson is completely blocked and those that have built on it will be made to remove them.
The ECTDA Boss further stated that because the administration of Governor Peter Mbah believes in citizens engagement, “we want to agree with you on the best way to carry out this exercise with human face but the right thing must be done regardless.
“After this meeting, anyone that has built on the channels is expected to demolish and remove the illegal structures by themselves because if we’re forced to remove it, the affected house will be sealed and the owner of the property will refund the cost of such removal.
Some of the residents that spoke during the meeting commended the government for their approach to the issue while others urged them to conduct an on-the-spot assessment and mark the affected building because some of them are too you to know of the properties they inherited violates this directive.
Hon. Anya took some of the residents around to show them examples of this violation. During this inspection exercise, a building which was built under electric line was marked for removal.
