KWANIA-Authorities in Kwania district have given wetland encroachers five weeks to voluntarily vacate or face the strong arm of the law.
About 9,460 hectares of wetland in Kwania have been depleted, out of the estimated 30,120 hectares of wetland in the district, according to the Ministry of Water and Environment.
The encroachers have planted rice, tomatoes and cabbages among other crops in the wetlands which forced the district natural resource committee and the district security committee to give encroachers five weeks to harvest their crops and vacate peacefully.
Jacob Jonga, Kwania deputy resident district commissioner said the district issued the first deadline from January this year to August 31, 2022, but the encroachers did not observe the deadline as they kept on growing crops in the wetland.
“At one time we gave people a deadline of August 31, 2022, but they have not complied. So we sat as district leaders and extended the deadline to December 31, 2022. On January 1, 2023, I don’t want to see you in the wetland unless you have taken there your cow to drink water or graze, “he said.
Kwania district human resource officer, Jimmy Okweny said wetlands could only be used for lucrative fish farming, vegetable growing, and grazing animals but not for settlement and rice growing, according to section 55 of the National Environment Act.
“National Environment…clearly stipulates the regulated activities in wetlands. You are allowed to grow vegetables, graze animals and do fish farming. The Act prohibits rice growing and planting of eucalyptus trees but most of you have planted rice, which is prohibited, “he said.
Addressing the local leaders of Akali Sub-county in a sensitisation meeting held on Wednesday at Telela trading center, Okweny said, “Many people have continued to encroach and illegally reclaim wetlands for settlement and farming in Kwania. Those activities possess a huge threat to the environment.”
Local Leaders who spoke to this reporter have welcomed the five weeks ultimatum with mixed reactions. Vincent Otile, the LCII Chairman of Abwong parish says, “We should be given enough time to leave the wetland.”
Another local leader Michael Ayini said, “We have suffered enough from the effects of wetland degradation. In my opinion, I think it’s a high time the district leaders and the environment police walk the talk in order to conserve the environment.”
https://thecooperator.news/rice-farmers-ask-govt-to-rescind-ban-on-growing-rice-in-wetlands/
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