The Rivers State House of Assembly, has urged  residents of Port Harcourt to ensure that their drainages and gutters are kept clean in this rainy period so as to avoid flooding of the environment which might be harmful to their properties.

Speaking to newsmen in Port Harcourt at the weekend, the Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Engr. Victoria Nyeche said that many residents of Port Harcourt and environs were not very conscious of ensuring that the water channels were kept clean so as to ensure free and easy passage of water.

She stated that unfolding events in Port Harcourt’s environment have revealed that the predictions of the National Meteorological Agency with respect to flooding this year due to much rainfall is gradually coming true.

The environment committee chairman also pointed out that many areas within Port Harcourt and its environs were beginning to experience flooding, pointing out that one of the ways that the menace could be controlled was to clear all debris from the drainage to allow free flow of water.

Nyeche also urged property developers to ensure that their development projects did not in any way hamper the free flow of water in their channels, as any building that obstructs the water channel could be very disastrous to the environment.

It would be recalled that some areas in Port Harcourt have been flooded in the last six week because of heavy rain fall and blockage of water channels.

Residents of Ada-George road by Elioparanwo and some areas in the GRA were serious affected as their properties were taken over by flood.