Residents across the state have again been called upon to desist from illegal felling of trees, so as to boost the supply of water in the state , because forest is crucial to the development and sustainability of water resources in the state.

The Special Adviser to the Kwara state governor on forestry, Mr Amos Sayo gave the charge while speaking with The Herald. He said what could be done to make sure future generations have clean water was to protect and enhance the forests that provide the water.

He added that on public and private land alike, forest perform vital public service by supplying and filtering our water, stressing that, that was the reason for advocating that land owners receive payment or other economic incentives to keep their land forested.

He said if the state forests were not properly managed, there would not be proper provision of drinking and affordable water for all even as he said his office had been on visits to all parts of the state to ascertain the level of deregulation of the forests and to see what the government can provide to maintain all the forests.

He noted that if the forests were properly maintained and taken care of, there would be reduction in water challenge facing the state currently. Sayo also enjoined everybody in the state to join hand with the state government to ensure good hygiene across the state just as raining season is around the corner.

He then advised them to desist from dumping on the ground and inside drainages so as to ease the passage of water in order to avoid erosion which may lead to destruction of property in the state.

The special adviser on environmental services, Alhaji Manzuma Abdul Malik Kawu Dogo, commended the state governor for giving them the courage to reinstate environmental sanitation in the ministries and also expressed his pleasure over the cooperation of civil servants in the state on the exercise adding that they all trooped out and made brilliant effort to clean their various offices without considering their various status.

He then urged Kwarans to ensure proper hygiene in their various places, in order to cater for their health and to avoid all kind of diseases adding that they should not limit sanitation to the monthly environmental sanitation days alone.