BCC moves to check flooding

Blantyre City Council (BCC) says clearing the drainage systems will reduce flooding during the rainy season.

BCC public relations manager Anthony Kasunda said in an e-mail response on Monday that the biggest problems facing the city’s drainage system are improper disposal of waste and the drainage system design.

“The council is clearing the drainage system of the roads to accommodate water from up land infrastructure. With recent growth in population, the city has grown and there is need for a new project to enlarge drains.

“However, the council is not in a position to carry out the project. Perhaps with the help from Roads Authority and other stakeholders, the project may be carried out,” he said.

The Department of Climate Change and Meteorological Services, in a statement on a week-long weather update released on Sunday, asked city, town and road authorities to ensure that storm-water drainage systems are well managed and clear of rubbish.

The statement said the authorities should fill up potholes on the roads to ease flow of storm-water runoff that flows off impervious surface areas such as roads, roofs, driveways, parking lots, streets and other hard surfaces.

“They should also properly manage old trees which can be hazardous during heavy rainstorms causing some inconveniences to road users and those walking on the sidewalks,” reads the statement in part. n