Govt to evolve measures to save coastal areas

Moree (C/R), Aug 4, GNA - Mr Isaac Edumadze, the Central Regional Minister has said the government was working on an "Environmental Sensitivity Map" of coastal areas to facilitate their management. He said a National Oil Spill Contingency Plan (NOSCP) and National Oil Spill Response Strategy (NOSRS) have been developed to deal with oil spills in the nation's territorial waters.

Mr Edumadze said this in a speech read for him at a durbar to mark the region's celebration of World Environment Day.

He said a sizeable amount of the HIPC relief fund has been allocated for the procurement of sanitation equipment and waste management and called on the people living in the coastal areas to play their part in the management of the environment.

Mr Edumadze stressed the need for people to check negative practices that degrade the environment. "The unbearable water crisis the region has been experiencing would not have come about if water sources were taken good care of.''

The Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese District Chief Executive, Mr Andrew Mensah appealed to the Ministry of Works and Housing to consider constructing storm drains in Moree to check flooding.

He said the district was also saddled with deforestation and indiscriminate waste disposal.

''Some communities have been given support to improve water retention in the soil to keep water from creating gullies and rills, while others have been trained to use sand bags to control erosion in their areas.''

The durbar was preceded by a procession of school children in the township, carrying placards, some of which read "we need the sea for fish, we need our sea for salt, protect our water bodies, we need our seas for tourism and don't litter it."