TheGovernment of Anambra State has declared its readiness to curb the menace of erosion in the state through the planting of no fewer than one million trees in thestatewithin 50 days.

At a press briefing in Awka,the state capital, Mr. Tony Nnacheta, Commissioner for Information and Communication Strategy, said that was the decision of the State Executive Council heldlast Tuesdayat the Government House.

He noted that the measure had become necessary following the discovery of 950 erosion sites in the state, saying that with that number, Anambra could stand for the erosion capital of the world.

Nnacheta said:“Anambra State has 950 erosion sites. With this figure, the state can be called the erosion capital of the world. We want to elevate this problem in the consciousness of our people because from experts, nine percent of the erosion problem in the state is man-made.

“Our people should take the issue of environment seriously; otherwise in few years time we shall be in a more difficult situation than we are now.”

The commissioner further said that the state had declared the 25^th of this month “a full scale environmental sanitation day in the state adding that markets in the state would remain closed till12 noonon that day. Nnacheta said that the governor with members of his cabinet would lead the June 25clean up exercise. Others billed to participate include volunteers, market persons, corporate bodies, bank workers, paramilitary and military formations.”

While disclosing that state government had forwarded a bill to the State House of Assembly for a legal backing on environment related matters, the commissioner said the state governor had instituted a sanitation award for the cleanest community and local government in the state.

“There will be monthly winners, there will be yearly winners. The award winners will be determined by the state ministry of environment,” Nnacheta explained.

On health, the commissioner said council also approved the establishment of Medical Oxygen Gas Production Plant at the state owned Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Teaching Hospital, Awka to handle emergency situations as well as the renovation of 63 health centres and three general hospitals in the state to international standards. He stressed that the state government was perfecting arrangements to start a health insurance scheme for the people.

The commissioner said the council also approved the building of a 5,000 capacity international conference centre in Awka, to meet up with the development envisaged in the area in a few years time and further agreed on a N20 million intervention project in each of the 177 communities in the state before the end of the year.

•Photo shows Governor Willie Obiano.