Water pollution: Osun residents express worry

Residents of Osun, especially in Ilesa and the surrounding towns have expressed worry over the unwholesome mining activities around the sources of water in Idi-Oko and Iponda which supplies the Kajola Dam.

Their fear is based on the assumption that the water that will be supplied to the people within the catchment area of the dam may be adulterated as a result of the activities of artisanal miners around the water sources.

These fear stakeholders revealed to this medium may make government effort at providing portable drinking water to the people very difficult.

But speaking on the development, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Osun State Governor, Abdullah Adeyanju Binuyo, allayed the fears of the people on lead poisoning, adding that the government has set up a committee to ensure that the operations of artisanal and licenced miners were within the terms of reference.

He also assured the people of the state of adequate supply of portable drinking water at the completion of the water supply project.

In the same vein, a former Osun Commissioner for Works and Transport, Bayo Faforiji, tasked the committee set up by state government on mining to regulate activities of prospectors to also protect mineral resources near water channels.

While calling for government intervention, he noted that the danger posed to the supply of water to Ilesa and environs is the reason the people are afraid of the activities of the prospectors.

An activist and community elder, Ademola Fatoki, demanded that the government shod take a decisive step in protecting the dam and other sources of water in the state, warning that if such was not done, the project would facilitate the spread of water borne diseases.

Members of the affected communities and stakeholders expressed concern over the danger associated with the activities of illegal, artisanal and licenced miners which include, lead poisoning, landslides and destruction of farm lands.