The Imo State Government has begun desilting of drains in Owerri and its environs ahead of the rainy season.

The Director of Operations, Imo State Waste Management Company, Ugochukwu Aghazie, said this on Monday, while briefing journalists during a cleanup of the drains on Douglas Road, Owerri.

Mr Aghazie said that the exercise was intended to improve environmental cleanliness, reduce pollution, diseases and enhance the aesthetics of the capital city.

He said that street traders would be relocated to the markets to free up the roads and make for ease of cleaning.

He said that a waste management firm would introduce the use of waste bins for the disposal of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste to end the littering of the environment.

Mr Aghazie further said that mobile toilets would be installed in strategic locations to end open defecation and sanitise the streets.

According to him, a monitoring team will be set up to ensure total compliance with revised sanitation regulations and justify the efforts of the government.

He said, “We want to achieve absolute cleanliness on Douglas Road and other streets of Owerri and we have started by cleaning up the drains. We will recapture Owerri.’’

(NAN)