Latest update January 30th, 2025 6:10 AM
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Mahaica residents remain on high alert as rains continue
– lack of fuel affecting drainage pumps
Residents of Cane Grove, Mahaica, on the East Coast of Demerara, remain on high alert and are holding their breaths hoping that the East Demerara Water Conservancy will remain at a decent level, so that their community will not be flooded.
It is expected that, should the water in the conservancy rise above its banks, the water will have to be pumped into the Mahaica Creek, creating flooding in that district.
An advisory to this effect was issued over the past weekend, with preparations being made to remove some residents in the event of flooding.
Water is being pumped into the Mahaica Creek at Belmont.
But, so far, all the pumps are working and the excess water is being pumped into the Mahaica Creek without incident.
Unfortunately, rice farmers in the community are beginning to feel the effects of the heavy rainfall, which has plagued the coast over the past two weeks.
When this newspaper visited the community, there was nothing alarming to be observed, although several rice fields were flooded.
Rice farmer Basdeo, who has been cultivating rice for the past 20 years, told this newspaper that flooding could be avoided if the pumps are properly manned.
He said that he is already counting his losses as his several acres of rice are already submerged by at least two feet of water.
“The diesel pump in Cane Grove, most of the time don’t have fuel to work the pump.” Basdeo said that, apart from the main pump at Cane Grove, there are two contract pumps that assist in draining the high-risk community.
Rice farmer Basdeo points to the acres of rice under water.
“They are filling fuel in pails. They need to have drums of fuel if the thing is to work effectively. They need a big container to store the fuel, because most of the time they are running out of fuel,” Basdeo said.
Kaieteur News understands that the situation was observed on Saturday when the pumps did not work, causing the water to rise again in the area after it had receded by several inches.
“The water build up high and flood out the rice and melt out the rice. We will suffer serious losses,” Basdeo lamented.
The rice crop, he said, is over a month old, and the hard labour and investments being put in by farmers are going to waste.
He and other residents are appealing to the Minister of Agriculture to revisit the area with a view to getting a first hand look at the problem.
Workers manning the Cane Grove entrance to the East Demerara Water Conservancy told this newspaper that the situation is presently under control and there is no need for alarm.
Most yards in the Cane Grove, Mahaica area are dry, and residents are now breathing a sigh of relief, although they are fully aware that the situation can change in an instant.
Further down the coast, the water level is dropping, especially in the Haslington, Foulis, Paradise and Enterprise areas.
But the threat of water-borne diseases is still evident.
Over the weekend, health officials distributed medical supplies with the aim of combating a possible outbreak of diseases associated with flooding.
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