Delta State Chairman of the Taskforce on Environment, Chief Godspower Omafuvwe Asiuwhu (JP) has held a meeting with the executives of Sand Dredgers Association (SADAN) in the state urging members of the association to adhere to the law establishing the body.
The meeting became necessary owing to the observation of the negative impacts on humans and the environment in the course of the operation of the association.
Chief Asiuwhu cautioned seriously that the government of Rt.Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori would not condone any act of illegalities or deviation from the statutory requirements obtainable by law backing the operation of the body.
Asiuwhu listed what was expected of the association before operation to include Environmental Impact Assessment,
Audit report after three years of operation and evidence of bathymetric/sand search report must be conducted before approval
Others he listed are dredging activities must not obstruct navigating activities of/or on waterways, physical verification/authentication of dredgers and dredging sites and adherence to approved distance of 500meters from building and road.
Also included are adherence to approved 12 meters depth from the water surface and adherence to 500 meters distance between two dredgers.
Responding, the association executives who spoke in their turns, unanimously commended the taskforce chairman for the meeting which was intended to acquaint them what is required and promised to brief their members on its outcome.
The union executives said that most of the sand dredgers operating against the laws were not their members, and had no permit or licensed to dredge.
