The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Water Resources, Alh Okanlawon Musa Olarewaju, General Manager Water Cooperation, Eng Umar Sheu, Director of planning, Alh Kehinde Eleja Deputy Director of Quality, Alh Ameen Babatunde and Director of Water Engr. Toye visited Asa-Dam and also met with the Kwara State Fish Farming Association (KWFFA) at Asa-Dam Waterworks.
The reason for the visitation was to meet the KWFFA on the indiscriminate disposal of waste which could have dangerous effects on the lives of the inhabitants.
One of the lead members of the association, Alh Salami welcomed the Permanent Secretary and other members of the visitation team.
While speaking on behalf of the association, he said they are looking for solutions to the problem of waste discharge from the fish pond which has caused the pollution of the many water bodies, he also noted that the ministry should apply its expertise in solving the seasonal problems of waste management and disposal.
Alh T. Jamiu also observed that the association has failed strictly to the guidelines of the ministry on waste management and disposal, which he said led the association to having problems with Asa-Dam water.
The General Manager of Kwara State Water Cooperation, Eng. Umar Sheu said the KWFFA association has stepped over the rule of the ministry, other State Dams in each state have step-back of 250mm far away to Dam, by this situation here, the association has gone against rules.
He also said the ministry cannot bring the plan alone, it must come up with the association's agenda and later provide feedbacks to the ministry on the resolutions for onward actions.
In his response, the Permanent Secretary, Alh Musa said that in every aspect of work or business, there must be advantage and disadvantage.
He mentioned that the association's disadvantage is the loss of their profits while the state government is losing the Asa-Dam at any cost.
The Permanent Secretary said the people especially residents living around Asa-Dam have brought many reports and complaints to his office about the unwholesome state of Asa-Dam water which is caused by the unhygienic disposal of waste into the water body.
He noted that the Kwara state Government has spent huge amount of money on water treatment in an effort to provide clean and potable water for domestic and industrial use in order to reduce the influx of boreholes across the state.
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