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Relief canal will not commence this year – NDIA

Nov 23, 2008 News

The proposed canal that would cut through villages on East Coast Demerara from the East Demerara Water Conversancy (EDWC) to the Atlantic Ocean cannot commence this year.

This is according to Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Lionel Wordsworth, who posited that even if the project was to take off this year it would in no way be able to be completed before the start of the upcoming rainy season.

The acting CEO told this newspaper yesterday that a full report was currently being prepared to work out the modalities of undertaking such a project.

This report will be prepared by senior engineers, the Ministry of Agriculture as well as Housing Ministry among others.

This report, he said, would include costing, technical challenges to be envisaged as well as how the canal will be opened up to the Atlantic Ocean.

Persons building houses at the Hope Housing Scheme, East Coast Demerara, have been instructed to halt construction given that this is where the proposed canal will be directed.

The aim of the canal is to facilitate the release of excess water from the East Demerara Water Conservancy.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat, Dr Roger Luncheon recently made the announcement to media operatives that Cabinet concluded its examination of options on ensuring the safety of the EDWC by improving its drainage flow from the area.

He noted that hydrological flow studies indicated that additional drainage was needed to ensure safety. An outlet to the Atlantic Ocean was identified and studies were undertaken.

The search for a suitable site was conducted, and according to Dr. Luncheon, Cabinet agreed on a site at Hope, East Coast Demerara.

This decision, he added, will lead to some relocation of homes and the abandonment of awards of house lots that would be lying in the intended path of the canal.

He said that the flow design of the intended works would be such as to minimise drainage into the Mahaica creek and its tributaries.

The design of the canal will need a 300 ft reserve with flow characteristics to provide sufficient capacity.

Dr. Luncheon said also that this canal will serve to reduce the pressure on the conservancy and its dam when they are most challenged.

He added that Cabinet had previously authorised expenditure for drainage works to improve the existing drainage to the Demerara River.

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