NDIA will subject itself to fair and just scrutiny

Jul 21, 2009 Letters

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Dear Editor,
I wish to respond to a Kaieteur News article dated Monday July 20, 2009, titled, “$78M pump station laughable – Canal residents” which is biased, prejudicial and seeks to discredit the work of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA).

NDIA is of the opinion that there is a belaboured attempt on the part of this Newspaper to discredit the efforts and investment of the Government, since there have been numerous slanted reports on its drainage facilities. While the Authority is happy for persons to be enthused about the upkeep and management of its facilities, NDIA suggests that the newspaper seek clarification before making such reports that are heavily biased. Perhaps, the newspaper has some agenda for targeting the agriculture sector. This year we saw the highest budgetary allocation for the improvement and maintenance of the drainage and irrigation systems.
As such, the $78M pump station at Canals Polder that was recently commissioned was part of the Ministry of Agriculture’s drive to aid and assist farmers during the rainy season. At present, the pumps that were installed have the capacity to significantly increase drainage.

However, the pumps because of its vast potential cannot be opened continuously as the intake channel needs excavation, but squatters who are living on the feeder canal are posing a problem in effectively excavating this channel. Efforts are being made to remove the squatters by the respective agency for the past year. This will now have to be expedited if the pumps are to work at maximum capacity.
This installation of the new pump is in keeping with a promise made by the Agriculture Minister earlier this year, to bring relief to farmers, who were being affected by heavy rainfall whereby this new pump will be able to work during periods of high tide when the sluice cannot be opened.

The Stanleytown Pump Station was established in the 1980s and had become dysfunctional about two decades ago but at the behest of farmers; Government had moved to re-commission the pump station.
During the last rainy season, the Canals Polder was adversely affected by accumulation of water in farmlands and residential areas prompting the Government to initiate a programme to protect these vulnerable farmlands and communities.
As such, the Agriculture Export Diversification Programme (ADP) under the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), which has a component that provides for drainage and irrigation, was initiated in order to protect these areas.

At present, the Ministry of Agriculture with support from the IDB, is undertaking the complete rehabilitation of the major drainage system. As early as late February, earthen works began for the total rehabilitation of the drainage infrastructure with a view to increasing the drainage capacity as they are seen as vulnerable. This was in keeping with a promise made earlier by the government as some farmers were faced with some hardships during the December/January period. At present, seven excavators, one dragline and a bulldozer from NDIA’s fleet of equipment are working in these areas to build dams and to widen and deepen waterways.
NDIA has recognised that during rainy periods, the access dams to farmlands often become deplorable and has moved to buy equipment in order to fix these dams. Just last month, a $34 million bulldozer was purchased and was immediately dispatched to these areas in an effort to aid the farmers. These dams are now 90% completed and farmers can now have access as well as using the dam for transportation purposes.
Some $1.5 billion has also been invested in drainage and irrigation in La Jalousie, the Canals Polder, and Vreed-en-Hoop.

With respect to Kaieteur News claiming that the amount of money spent is laughable according to residents, NDIA wishes to bring to the attention of the public that this particular pump was manufactured in Miami and a contract was awarded through the national competitiveness bidding process.
With respect to the sum misrepresented by this newspaper, the scope of works include the installation of two new trash racks, new 95Hp right angle gear drive, new 450 HP diesel engine, new 150 cu.sec line shaft pump, construction of new pump house, extraction of hydroflow pump end and installation of new oil cooler, construction of perimeter fence, installation of new 42 inches diameter pipe works and rebuilding and installation of hydroflow discharge pipe works. The documentation is available and perhaps the newspaper may want to do its own investigation into the cost structure and advise the Ministry of Agriculture.

Over the weekend, it is a fact that some areas in Canals Polder were inundated, but this situation was soon brought under control quickly as the sluice was put into operation and in a limited way, the pump station which had to be turned off as the squatters’ encumbrance is preventing the flow.
NDIA will continue to support the many farmers that live in the Canals Polder area and subject itself to fair and just scrutiny. In fact, the Minister’s recent decision to publish all projects for media and public scrutiny was intended to invite the public’s constructive feedback. Where else is this done?
Omadatt Chandan
Corporate Secretary

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