The government of Enugu has warned its residents against illegal felling of trees and dumping of refuse on waterways to protect and safeguard the environment.

Head of Ecology and Mineral Resources, Ministry of Environment, Ifeanyi Nwodo, gave the warning while speaking on Tuesday in Enugu.

He stated that actions of residents who engaged in illegal cutting of trees either as firewood or for other purposes hampered environmental growth.

He said people should be environmentally friendly by engaging in activities that will make it safe for human beings to dwell in.

Mr Nwodo advised that: “If you must cut down trees, you must plant new ones as trees help to shade the atmosphere and ozone.”

Head of the department also said that illegal dumping of refuse had caused the state series of flooding, warning that residents should keep their well packaged waste at designated areas.

“We have observed that when it rains, people throw their refuse inside drains which block them.

“We are also appealing to those building houses in the state against improper channelling of their drain as well as building on unapproved areas.

“The illicit activities of some scavengers have become problematic to us, once someone packs refuse, they will be opening it searching for rubbish,” he said.

He warned that their taskforce officers are everywhere and anyone caught doing any of it would be arraigned at their environmental court.

(NAN)