The Minister for Works and Housing, Samuel Atta Akyea has observed that the construction of subterranean drains such as the one to be constructed at Nima and its environs to replace the current open air drains in that area and many others dotted around the country, would save the state a lot of money than to de-silt them on an annual basis.
The Minister cited the amount voted for de-silting the Odaw basing alone for the year 2019 was 250 Million Cedis which could have been put to better use.
Speaking on the floor of parliament Mr. Atta-Akyea noted that “We wouldn’t be using too much money in trying to do the de-silting which I have already told you it’s a yearly ritual; even when we don’t have money to do so”.
He further stated for instance, “for the year 2019, the amount voted for de-silting our drainage lining is 250 million Ghana Cedis but if had subterranean drain, we would not be spending this level of money in trying to maintain our drains and to keep the environment very safe.”
According to the Minister, once the drains go underground, the obnoxious habit of people dumping solid waste and refuse into the drains would stop because there would be no opportunity for anyone to do that: adding that it would lead to the improvement of the general sanitary conditions around the areas where these drainage systems are located.
“If you care to know, because of the open gutters that we have in the country, which also is one of the reasons why we are fighting hard that people will change their mentality: that they shouldn’t dump their filth which they have gathered from their homes into the open drains because it will choke the drains.
“The drains get choked and when there is a heavy downpour, the outcome is what we call the flooding: so there is the need to do what we call subterranean drain in which the whole drainage system is underground and nobody can put rubbish under the ground”.
Therefore he noted, “it is very hygienic and appropriate for good environment because we don’t have all the associated diseases which come with open drains, as well as yearly spending to de-silt these open drains.”
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com/ Delali Gavor/ Parliament
