Accra, Jan. 15 GNA - The Water Resource Commission in pursuance of its mandate of protecting water bodies, is harmonizing existing regulations on the protection of buffer zones along river bodies that would culminate into the passage of a Legislative Instrument. The Commission has observed the rapid rate of decrease in the quantity and deterioration of the quality of the country's water resources hence the need for such a policy and said by convention the acceptable buffer along river banks was between 30 metres and 50 metres where clearing and cultivation was forbidden.

A statement signed Mrs Adwoa Munkua Dako, Public Relations Officer of the Commission, said the indiscriminate clearing and burning of vegetation along water bodies, especially during the dry season, and the improper use of land for agriculture along river banks resulting in erosion and silting of the river channel as causes for decrease in water quantity.

It said the uncontrolled dumping and discharge of untreated domestic and industrial wastes; leaching of agro-chemicals from farms especially large commercial farms; rotten tree trunks, as well as fishing practices such as the use of chemicals accounted for the poor quality of water bodies.

The Commission, therefore, urged the public to live up to its civic responsibility of ensuring that water resources were well protected. It implored especially District Assemblies, Assembly members, Chiefs, Opinion Leaders, Security Agencies and Individuals to educate the public on the need to change negative attitudes to the use of water and rather adopt proper land use and practices that would promote the protection and conservation of water bodies.