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City drainage system copes with flooding, despite persistent littering
– Deputy Mayor
Littering continues to be a crucial hindrance to the Mayor and Councillors of the City of Georgetown (M&CC), even as that entity steps up its efforts to maintain the viability of the city drainage system.
Deputy Mayor, Robert Williams
Deputy Mayor Robert Williams said yesterday that workers charged with manning the drainage system are, on a regular basis, faced with the challenge of de-clogging drains and alleyways in an attempt to allow the free flow of excess water resulting from constant rainfall.
And in the wake of the rainfalls, the Deputy Mayor said, no effort is being spared to prevent the city from becoming inundated.
He pointed out, though, that the vigilance of the workers is, however, substantially affected by indiscriminate dumping, which persists on a daily basis in the city.
Williams revealed that citizens continue to recklessly litter the parapets and canals, thus hindering the effective operation of the drainage system.
And according to him, despite the garbage clogged areas being cleared as soon as they are recognised, there are some specific areas, including parts of Urquhart, Camp and Water Streets, North Road and in Campbellville, that are always flooded.
He attributed this situation to the failure of citizens to comprehend the dangers of the practice of littering, and of the fact that they could in fact be fined for such behaviours.
It is for this reason, he noted, that citizens should be more understanding and appreciative of the work undertaken by the municipality.
Normally, during December, the city of Georgetown receives about 262 millimetres (mm) of water resulting from rainfalls, but, instead, last month, it was overwhelmed by more than 436 mm of waters, a development which had only served to heighten the municipality’s challenge.
In that very month, the local Meteorological Office had announced that another 100 mm of rainfall was expected, bringing the water level to a whopping 536 mm.
But, according to the Deputy Mayor, the municipality has undoubtedly been able to overcome its challenges, since the streets of the city are free of water since the drains and canals are functioning well.
“The fact that you can walk the road and streets of Georgetown is evidence that we have been maintaining the drainage system as far as practicable,” Williams said.
He emphasised that the municipality should not be judged by the amount of rainfall but, rather, by its ability to discharge water through a functioning system.
In the meantime, though, he noted that there is dire need for the municipality to keep working on programmes to educate citizens on all the reasons why they should not litter.
He disclosed that the Public Relations Department of the M&CC, headed by Royston King, has engaged a number of programmes to counteract the littering problem.
As part of these initiatives, the municipality is urging citizens to help the council protect and preserve the environment.
A special forum has also been planned for this month, at which the municipality expects to discuss the issue of littering with stakeholders, to allow new and innovative ideas to be highlighted with a view to having citizens assist with the maintenance of the city.
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