The Rivers State Flood Control Committee, has blamed the incessant flooding in the city of Port Harcourt and environs, on the distortion of the flood drainage master plan of the city.
Chairman of the committee, Professor Winston Belgam disclosed this at a sensitisation workshop in Port Harcourt recently.
Prof. Belgam, whose paper at the workshop was entitled: Port Harcourt Flood Drainage Master plan: The Journey So Far,” said that property developers have refused to follow the drainage design of the city.
He particularly said that the continuous construction of structures on water right of ways is causing more harm to the city and its environs.
Professor Belgam also said that his committee has created series of interventions designed to reduce flooding in the city and listed some of these interventions to include; regular cleanup of existing drainages as well as opening of new ones to allow water access to the river.
He also stressed the need for regular funding of state fire service to enable it combat fire disasters in the state, and disclosed plans for the crunching of an international centre for environment, climate and development in the states.
According to him, the centre, which is the brainchild of the former Vice President of the United States of America, Algore, is to provide training on climate to the people and urged them to be part of the climate leaders for Africa.