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Govt. spends $1.7B to avert flooding

Dec 04, 2008 News

Almost $2B has been spent on drainage and irrigation works countrywide as reports of an active rainy season continue to unfold.
Meteorological reports yesterday stated that this rainy season can experience at least four to five inches of rainfall within any given day, with a 50 to 60 percent probability of above normal downpours.
Yesterday, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) warned that there will be short intense showers that will place some strain on the drainage systems.
While there are 76 operable pumps along the coast, Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, during a press briefing yesterday, cautioned that persons desist from dumping garbage in waterways.
He said that while tremendous work has been completed in preparation for the rainy season, any number of hiccups, minor or not, can cause extreme pressure on the drainage capacity.
Speaking with the media, NDIA Chief Executive Officer, Lionel Wordsworth, said that a total of $1.7B has been spent nationwide on drainage and irrigation works.
He said that NDIA has a fleet of 23 portable pumps and in preparation for the rainy season these have been deployed to strategic locations.
Six of these have been installed in Region Two, and one is in Region Three.
In Region Four, there are 39 fixed pumps but an additional 11 have been stationed around the city and East Coast of Demerara to support the existing structures.
An additional two pumps, he said, will complement the three fixed pumps in Region Five.
Region Six was supported by three mobile units despite having seven permanent structures.
Commenting on the overall expenditure for the rainy season, Wordsworth said that in Region Two, $185M was expended while $150M was spent in Region Three.
Some $130M, he said, was spent in Region Four and $83M in Region Six.
In Region Ten, $30M was spent, and $186M in the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary areas.
Highlighting the challenges of the NDIA, the CEO noted that negligence by personnel, especially koker attendants and operators, has been quite an issue for the organisation.
Vandalism of drainage structures and equipment was another challenge that Wordsworth highlighted.
Meanwhile, over at the East Demerara Water Conservancy, in addition to the 32 monitoring staff, a further 50 persons will be employed to enhance the monitoring activity during this period, the CEO said.
Five hydraulic excavators on pontoons, he added, were utilised to undertake cleaning and excavation of 20.5 miles of waterways.
The cost of all the works conducted on the EDWC totaled a whopping $120M.
It is expected that the seasonal rainfall will continue until the end of January 2009.

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