The Edo House of Assembly, on Monday, raised the alarm over the menace of indiscriminate dumping of refuse on major roads and drainages in the state.

The deputy speaker, Maria Oligbi-Edeko, who raised the alarm under matter of public importance, noted that the indiscriminate dumping of refuse on roads and drainages  constituted health hazard

The motion under public importance was co-sponsored by the deputy speaker and 10 other lawmakers.

Ms Oligbi-Edeko explained that the waste, which  was emitting offensive odour and constituting eyesore was also  reducing the aesthetic value of towns and cities in the state.

She also noted that the dumping of refuse and other waste materials was obstructing free flow of flood and causing flooding and gully erosion in the state.

According to her, dumping of refuse in sacks on  major roads and round major markets constitutes a health hazard, especially with the outbreak of cholera in some parts of the country.

The deputy speaker therefore, called on the local government chairmen to build refuse dump sites and set up monitoring teams to prevent the menace, especially at night.

She also called on health officers in the state to carry out sensitisation on the importance of proper waste disposal and cleanliness  of the environment.

The lawmakers unanimously supported the motion and called for the implementation of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise across the state.

The speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, thereafter directed the clerk of the house, Yahaya Omogbai to forward clean copies of the resolution to relevant authorities for immediate action.

Meanwhile, the member representing Etsako West, APC,  AbdulGaniyu Akokhai, announced to the house that a tree fell on traders at Jattu market killing yet to be ascertained number of persons. 

(NAN)