TWIN-CITY GETS ITS SHARE OF FLOODS (PAGE 29)

The rainy season is here and as usual the Western Regional capital of Sekondi/Takoradi is experiencing its share.
However, the resultant stagnant waters continue to flood streets and pedestrians walking on the pavements along the streets are splashed with water when vehicles move speedily on the streets.
Weeds have also overgrown and need to be cleared but are left by the relevant institutions tasked to undertake such projects.
This is due to the slow recession of stagnant water due to the blockage of channels created purposely to carry the stagnant water to bigger drains.
The blockage of these channels was as a result of inability of the of Urban Roads Department of the Sekondi/Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly to carry out its routine maintenance work.
On various busy streets in the metropolis, there have been various openings to channel rain water to the gutters.
After the end of the last rainy reason, when the Daily Graphic drew the department’s attention to that it was quickly taken care of and the authorities promised that such maintenance work was going to form part of their periodic activities.
It was the expectation of this paper that, before the rains, this would have been taken care of but the department has forgotten about it.
Information available indicate that the department is not ready for any major work this year because their budget for this year has not been approved.
According to officials of the metro urban roads, periodic maintenance of roads in the metropolis, patching of pot holes, clearing choked openings to ensure free flow of rain water to bigger drains and others was supposed to be taken care of by the department.
The source said because the budget had not been approved they would not be in a position to carry out works such as patching of potholes, clearing the streets corners of weed and other minor activities.
At the moment the side of the streets from Fijai Junction, STMA road, and other parts of the metropolis are overgrown with weeds.
That aside, the sand which gathers at the street corners find their way into the gutters, thereby blocking the free flow of liquid waste through these channels.
On some major streets, there are serious potholes. The Fijai road has countless ones at either side and the same could be said of other roads through Anaji.There is also a huge one in front of the Nana Boah Fuel Station near the offices of the regional administration.