The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has shut down Dukes Fuel Station at Kasoa Second Bus Stop in the Central Region following sanitation concerns linked to flooding along the Kasoa highway.
The closure was carried out as part of activities under the ongoing national clean-up exercise held on Friday, July 10, which seeks to improve environmental sanitation and address factors contributing to flooding across the country.
During an inspection of the facility, EPA officials discovered that the drains along the frontage of the fuel station were heavily choked, resulting in the overflow of water onto the main road whenever it rained.
Speaking in an interview, the Kasoa Area Head of the EPA, Abbas Dawood, said the situation posed a serious danger to motorists and pedestrians who use the highway.
He explained that although the sanitation challenges around the facility had been identified, the fuel station was still operating, prompting authorities to take immediate action.
Following the assessment, the Assembly directed the closure of the station until the blocked drains are properly desilted and other sanitation issues around the premises are resolved.
Mr Dawood said the EPA and the Assembly would continue to enforce environmental regulations to ensure businesses take responsibility for maintaining clean surroundings and reducing the risk of flooding in the municipality.
He urged residents, shop owners and businesses to regularly clear drains in front of their properties, noting that poor sanitation practices continue to worsen flooding challenges in Kasoa.
“We assessed the area and found that all the drains were choked, causing water to overflow. We want residents, shops and businesses to take responsibility for environmental sanitation to help reduce flooding in Kasoa,” he said.
Mr Dawood added that other businesses that fail to maintain proper sanitation around their premises would also face similar enforcement actions.
“We will also close other businesses that fail to desilt the drains in front of their premises. This is necessary, and we will meet with the management to discuss the way forward,” he stated.
