Deputy Minister in the Vice-President's Office (Union Matters and Environment) Luhaga Mpina has given a seven-day ultimatum to the National Environment Management Council (NEMC) and Dar es Salaam Water and Sewerage Corporation (DAWASCO) to fix the city’s sewer system.
The Deputy Minister issued the directive in Dar es Salaam yesterday
soon after completing a clean-up of the environment in Mickocheni
ward’s TPDC Street. The first Saturday of each month is used for
cleaning the surroundings. The Deputy Minister and the NEMC Director
General Bonaventure Baya were yesterday joinedby Michochen residents to
clean the surroundings. DAWASCO was also invited but did not send a
representative.
Mpina ordered the two firms to collaborate and identify industries
and houses which channelled their sewage to the rain drainage system. He
told them to take legal action against those who will be identified.
During the exercise the Deputy Minister observed sewage water from
discharged to rain water drainage system and cause environmental
pollution over the area.
The Deputy Minister has also admitted that the city is very dirty,
therefore they plan to conduct special operation of 30 days in order to
ensure the city is clean.
Earlier, Street Chairman Idris Hasheem complained to the Minister
that the street has for long time faces the environmental pollution
because of sewage water channeled in rain drainage system.
“I wrote two letters to Dawasco requesting them to visit the area
and address the problem but they did not respond. I decided to report
NEMC over the same problem but nothing has been done,” the chairman
explained
Athuman Malenda, a Mikocheni resident, explained that the sewage
water coming out from the Dawasco main holes and enter into his house
which is close the drainage system, but the authority did not take any
action to end the problem.
“I have five grand children who were mostly affected when the sewage water get into my seating room” Malenda explained
Sylvester Ntonja a Ward Executive Officer at Mikochen area told the
Minister that his ward is mostly affected with sewage water from a
Dawasco chamber and from industries, they reported it several times
with no respond.
Dr Julius Ningu, Director of Environment Department in the
Vice-President's Office, responded by saying that the problem of
discharging sewage water into the rainwater drainage system was a big
challenge to the city authorities.
The Director asked the local government authority at Mokocheni to
take legal action to those who involve, “you have the authority of
bringing them before the court because you have that authority”
Responding to the Mikochen Residents claims the NEMC Director Eng
Bonaventure Baya promise to collaborate with Dawasco and address the
problem within in three weeks, the promise which was denied by minister,
who wanted the problem to be solved within seven day.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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