By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
Commissioner for environment in Cross River State, Bassey Offiong Mensah has explained that no business in the state will be allowed to operate in a manner that creates environmental nuisance, imposes health risks or cause consequences of poor waste management on residents.
He spoke yesterday while his enforcement officers sealed up a bakery on Eyo Etta Street in Calabar which was discharging waste water into a neighbour’s property.
Mensah disclosed that he was prompted by a report to visit the location to assess the situation firsthand, which forced his ministry to seal the bakery as part of its enforcement measures.
He described the discharge of wastewater into another person’s property as unacceptable, insisting that business operators must comply with established environmental regulations.
He added that they are committed to enforcing environmental laws to protect public health.
Mensah maintained that businesses, particularly manufacturing facilities, must make adequate arrangements for wastewater disposal from the construction stage through their daily operations.
The bakery’s manager, Mr. Kingsley Emmanuel, insisted that they had an agreement between themselves and the neighbouring landlord over the waste water passage.
The state government has clamped down on many firms and private residences which do not comply with environmental standards in the last few months.
