By Joseph O. Sayon
The Environmental Protection Agency has put into place several policy measures to discourage those building on wetland in Liberia.
EPA said it will not allow anyone to build on wetland because constructing on wetland is counterproductive to the environment.
EPA Executive Director Nathanial Blama said it is not safe to construct on wetland as the EPA has begun taken action by demolishing structures in the swamp.
Dr. Blamah spoke Thursday May 2, 2019 at the Information Ministry regular press conference.
He urged Liberians to cooperate with the EPA and the Ministry of Public Works in an attempt to prevent community dwellers from building on the wetland.
Dr. Blamah said those who will not adhere to the EPA regulations not build on wetland structures will be demolished and that the victims if not satisfy can go to court.
He disclosed that the EPA and the Ministry of Public Works will soon begin community enragement to discourage people from building on the wetland.
Dr. Blamah said anyone constructing structure about five centimeters must seek construction permit from the EPA and the Ministry of Public Workers.
He said the EPA and partners will not relent to enforce policies that seek to ensure the protection and management of the environment.
Dozens of people are currently filling in wetland and constructing structures for dwelling and business purposes.
In the past, the EPA had failed to stop people from building on wetland, as a result there have been a missive scrambled for swamp land in Liberia which had left to dozens of people being victimized by flooding.
In the event of flooding, the burden of restoring the lives of the victims is solely depended on the National Government intervention along with other partners which is cash intensive.
EPA VS George Kailondo
The Supreme Court in June 2018 placed a stay order on a planned demolition exercise of constructed filling station property of businessman George Bobby Kailondo on the Samuel K. Doe (SKD) Boulevard. The demolition exercise, which was scheduled Saturday, June 23, was to be carried out by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for what it termed as blatant violations of its order by businessman Kailondo.
Several other individuals have in time past taken the EPA to court for what they termed ‘illegal’ demolition exercise.
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