Tony Edike
27 March 2012, Sweetcrude, ENUGU – NINE filling stations along the Presidential and Ogui road in Enugu metropolis were, Monday, sealed off by the Enugu State Government, following leakage of an underground diesel tank that has polluted surface water and underground wells in Asata area.
Some residents of Asata, especially those living at the bank of Asata river discovered Sunday that their underground water wells were polluted by petroleum product suspected to be diesel, making it impossible for them to use the water for domestic purposes.
They subsequently alerted officials of the State Ministry of Environment who visited the area, Monday, and confirmed the oil pollution after a preliminary investigation but the source of the oil could not be immediately ascertained.
The affected residents who relied on well water, owing to the acute water scarcity in Enugu metropolis caused by suspension of public water supply since November last year, have been thrown into serious difficulties, as they now buy water from far distances.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. John Egbo, who confirmed the oil pollution, said government had taken necessary steps to protect the area from a major disaster.
He said that nine filling stations operating within the area had been sealed to forestall further leakage and possible fire outbreak while investigations had commenced to determine the source of the leakage.
According to the commissioner, operatives of the State Fire Service, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Nigeria Police, Nigeria Civil Defense and Security Corps as well as Health officers from the Ministry of Health have been deployed to the area which had been completely cordoned off to forestall any disaster.
