Basebele (U/W), Oct. 9, GNA - The Upper West Regional office of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has decided to restrict farming activities to the area beyond one hundred metres from the flood level of the Back Volta River in all communities along its banks.

This is intended to check the river's siltation and massive destruction of vegetation cover in its catchment area, which have cumulatively led to regular flooding of its banks.

Mr Asher Nkegbe, Regional Programme Officer of the Agency, said this ;during monitoring visits to Dukpen and Basebele in the Lawra District.

He noted that there are over 40 settlements along the Black Volta whose activities impacted negatively on the sustainability of the river, and this would not be allowed to continue.

According to Mr Nkegbe, the capacity of the river to hold more water has been drastically reduced by the activities of these settlements.

It is the hope of the EPA that this catchment area management programme would provide the framework for prudent watershed management and all year round maintenance of vegetation cover along river banks in the region.

He appealed to the district /municipal assemblies to enact bye-laws to enforce these restrictions and also provide dams and dug-outs to promote dry season farming as a way of reducing pressure on the river.