By Juliet Ogbodu
KWALE/Nigeria: Last week, we reported about the bad roads in Kwale, the Administrative Headquarter of Ndokwa West Local Government Area in Delta State, and how they needed immediate attention, while we touched on the state of the roads, a vital aspect of a lasting road infrastructure is the presence of good drainage systems.
It is common knowledge that good roads need to be complimented with drainage system. This helps in no small way in enhancing the durability of the roads.
In addition to this, a good drainage system also helps to take care of flooding within the living quarters of people in a society. During rainy season, we usually witness flooding in various parts of the town to the extent that people are rendered homeless.
In 1987, the then Ndokwa Local Government Area comprising of the now Ndokwa West, Ndokwa East and Ukwuani LGAs, under the chairmanship of Chief P.C. Okpor, took the initiative to construct a drainage system from Isumpe road, through Eke Lane, Udeaka Lane to Ogugu Street, down to Utu valley. This contract was handled by Late Chief Paul Otuya.
While the idea behind the project was a good one, its implementation was not good enough to achieve its objective. The covet linking the drainage from Udeaka lane to Ogugu was always blocked by refuse being disposed into the gutter either intentionally by inhabitants of that neighborhood or by rain water carrying refuse from eke market into the drainage.
Another challenge with this project implementation was that the drainage was not deep enough. The topography was not well planned to enhance free flow of water to its final destination.
Today, the resultant effect of it all is that flooding is like a recurring decimal within this neighborhood to the point that people in the area have become used to it. Even roads like Umusam road, Isumpe road, Eke Lane are usually very difficult to pass through whenever it rains.
Still on drainage issues, another thing that calls for concern is the way drainage has been constructed in so many other streets in the town which lead to nowhere, especially in Umusadege quarters. One wonders how people who mean well for their community will waste so much money on drainages which flow to nowhere only to ultimately end up as a refuse dump for the people. It is so unfortunate.
Having said all these, somehow, succour has come for the people, that is, if the community leaders will recognise it. The completion of the Afia-eze road along with the drainage which meets the required standard in terms of depth and also leads to the Utu valley is a bail out. It will be very easy for drainage from Umusam road, Isumpe road, Eke Lane to be linked to it for onward flow to Utu valley. Even streets in Umusadege can tap from this by constructing a drainage along Umusadege road to link the drainage at Afia-eze road.
Is someone out there listening? Let him/her pass the message to those at the helm of affairs in the leadership of Utagba-Ogbe, Kwale.
