The Chairman of the National Association of Hydrogeologists, Ilorin Chapter, Mr. Lekan Afolami has said that over 80% of Kwarans depend on underground water supply for various utilization, including domestic, agriculture, and industry.
Afolami disclosed this when the Executive Members of the Association paid the the kwara staye Commissioner for Water Resources, Dr. (Mrs.) Risikatullahi Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir acourtesy visit in her office.
He emphasized that this demand had put much pressure on water usage, thereby necessitating the need for joint partnership to protect the environment for development.
He therefore, called for urgent need for the revival of the groundwater development industry in the state through the review of laws establishing agencies like the Kwara State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), in line with international best practices.
The Chairman pledged the association’s support to the state government and assured of its readiness to do the needful to surmount the challenges facing the sector.
In her comment, the state Commissioner f9r Water Resources, Dr. (Mrs.) Risikatullahi Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir appealed to NAH to join hands with the state government to safeguard the environment from environmental implications of excessive drilling of boreholes in the state.
The Commissioner, according to a statement signed by the press Secretary of the Ministry, Adamu Mohammed Saidu, and made available to the public, said that since she came on board a few months ago in the Ministry, it has been her concern on how to curtail the unregulated drilling of boreholes across the state.
Abdulmaliq-Bashir stressed that a great effort to curb the uncontrolled activities of boreholes drilling in the state will require the collective efforts of both the government and private establishments to reposition the water sector.
She reiterated that if the depth of boreholes drilled in the past used to be 30-45 meters, adding that it has now increased to about 100 and 150 meters by those hired to drill boreholes, thereby posing a serious danger to the environment which calls for conscerted efforts of the stakeholders.
she urged the association to always seek government permission before drilling any borehole in any part of the state in order to help protect the environment, lives and property, pointing out that the consequences associated with excessive drilling of boreholes are always enormous and devastating.
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