Gatundu North environment and health officer Beatrice Mueni has urged the area county legislators to make laws that will prevent further destruction of water catchment areas and deforestation.
Speaking on Monday during the building of the Chania river bridge at the boarder of Gatundu North and Gatanga sub counties in Mataara, Mueni noted that residents carelessly cleared forests and littered dams an action she noted as pollution and degradation of the environment.
"Making of stiff laws will not only avert destruction of our environment but will also empower players in the water conservation sector in this sub county with the legal authority to ensure that the public keep off water catchment areas and river banks other than for farming activities," she said.
Mueni observed that due to the lack of such a legal framework at the sub county level, many dams, wells including rivers were expected to dry up especially during the expected January dry season.
"My department is striving to bring in more players on board so as to fulfil the mandate allocated to us by the county government. This include the creation of a clean environment, establishing better sewerage and drainage systems among others which we are all working on to make sure that we fulfil every task before the end of the terms of leadership," she said.
The officer further said that there is need to have proper mitigation measures put in place to contain rampant illegal water diversions by people living upstream saying that the trend had continued to deny those living downstream the opportunity to utilise the essential commodity to improve their livelihoods.
"I urge residents to be more proactive in taking care of water points in their respective areas and strive to plant more trees to cater for the future generations' water needs," she added.