EPA Deputy Executive Director, Hon. Urias Goll
The Management of the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), says the recent demolition exercise by the Agency of structures built on wetlands, along the SKD Boulevard will continue unabated across Montserrado County in 2017.
EPA Acting Executive Director Urias Goll, noted that the demolition exercise is meant to clear all wetlands in Montserrado County of structures to allow the free flow of nature for environmental safety.
Mr. Goll disclosed that Monrovia and its immediate surroundings suffer huge flooding during the rain season due to the construction of structures on wetlands and waterways, something he described as unsafe for both human lives and the environment.
Section 75 of the Environment Protection and Management Law (EPML) of the Republic of Liberia, prohibits the construction of any structure or environmentally unfriendly use of wetlands in the Country.
An EPA release is quoted as saying, the demolition exercise will be done in phases to create the necessary safe environment for the people of Liberia in keeping with the mandate of the Agency.
The Agency is however emphatic, that it is not against economic development on wetlands, but those wishing to do so, should coordinate with the EPA for environmental safety guidance in the process of undertaking such development.
It can be recalled, that on December 20,2016 the EPA Special Committee on the protection of Wetlands coordinated by the Agency Chief Technical Advisor, begun the demolition exercise of Illegal structures built on wetlands along the Samuel Kanyan Doe Boulevard. The Agency is therefore, urging those who have already violated section 75 of the (EPML) to begin coordinating with the EPA on their relocation prior to the resumption of the demolition exercise.
