NDIA helps to alleviate flash flooding in vulnerable areas

Jul 06, 2010 News

---

– resources and engineers deployed

The Ministry of Agriculture’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has stepped up its programme to support Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils affected by  localized flash  flooding, which in some areas recorded five inches of rainfall. This is according to Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud.
The Minister stated that to add support to local authorities’ response, NDIA’s resources including excavators and pumps, were deployed along with engineers to assess the situation and take necessary action. Adverse weather conditions were experienced in some coastal regions of Guyana especially areas in Regions Three and Four.
In a statement, the Minister of Agriculture revealed that in Region Two, there has been no significant amount of rainfall to cause flooding. “The rains have in fact built up the levels in the conservancies and the canals, so that farmers could have adequate water. Desilting is taking place at C1/C6 and Good Hope areas.
Across the coast, through the Region’s capital programme, drainage and irrigation structures are being built. The Lima and Windsor Castle outfalls have yet to be cleared as there is a lack of water to carry out desilting exercise.”
Region Three
In Region Three, because of the tide lock mechanism on sluice doors, some areas experienced accumulation of water. However, as soon as the tide receded and sluice doors were opened, water quickly receded. A koker door at Canal No. 1 Polder was also cleared yesterday to ensure there was maximum drainage capacity.
In preparation for the rains, much work was also carried out in the Region Three by NDIA. These works included rehabilitation at Hubu, Vergenoegen, Parika and Tuschen while remedial works were carried out at Boerasirie. Repairs to sluice doors were carried out at Parika, Den Amstel while sluice doors were replaced at Windsor Forest and Hague. Presently, the façade being excavated from Windsor Forest to Vreed-en-Hoop is nearing completion.
Mobile pumps were also installed at Windsor Forest and Leguan while clearing and excavating outfalls channels at Windsor Forest, Canal No.1, Canal No.2, A-Line, Schoonord, Vreed-en-Hoop, Bell Vue, Wales, Patentia, Sanbatch, Potosi, Reynstein, VL-Sluice and La Rensio were carried out. Works are currently ongoing at Versailles.
Inlet channels at A-Line, Schoonord, Barnwell, Philadelphia, Vergeonoegen, Hague, La Jalousie, Den Amstel and Windsor Forest were cleared. A new drainage structure at Amersfort, Wakenaam was also completed.
Region Four
In Region Four, there were some reports of flash flooding in areas such as Grove/Diamond which experienced high levels of rainfall. And the deployment of a mobile pump to supplement the discharge capacity of the Grove Sluice and mobilize an excavator to carry out urgent works to lift an earthen dam which was removed by residents and overtopped during the heavy rainfall.
Accumulated water in low lying yards is quickly receding.
The NDIA is currently excavating critical canals in Kaneville, East Bank Demerara and Alliance, Timehri. Emergency works are presently being carried out at Buxton where there is a leaking pump basin.
To date, most of the outfalls channels inclusive of Hope, Greenfield and Victoria have been cleared. Drainage pumps were installed at Supply, Mahaica, Paradise, Enmore and Hope while much needed drainage works were completed at Mocha.
At the East Demerara Water Conservancy, clearing and de-weeding of waterways and dams were undertaken. Outfalls channels at Little Diamond, Herstelling and Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara were excavated. New sluice doors were installed at Greenfield, while rehabilitation of the crown dam from Hope to Greenfield and three intake structures were completed.
Region Five
Excavating, building embankments and empoldering in Mahaicony and assisting farmers with two (2) days work so as to facilitate continued agricultural activity are ongoing. In Mahaica, both the right and left flood embankments are being built. The Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority and the NDIA is also assisting farmers in installing tubes or clearing canals. In Abary, in the longer term to increase the drainage capacity, a sluice is being built at Profitt.
Empoldering is ongoing at Little Biabu and a new drainage structure is completed at Jeenarine Canal.
Region Six
In Region Six, there were no reports of flooding. Maintenance works on drains and canals are ongoing while all outfalls have been dredged and all drainage pumps are operational. Mobile pumps were deployed to Whim, Liverpool, Crabwood Creek, No.43 and Eversham. Excavation works were undertaken at Black Bush Polder, Yakasari, New Forest and Bushlot.
Region Ten
In Region Ten, there were no reports of flooding. The Region’s maintenance and capital programme is ongoing. The NDIA under its capital works programme will undertake the construction of control structures at West Watooka and lower Kara Kara, construction of soak-away structures at Wismar Hill and construction of Drainage Structures at Wismar Hill. Manual cleaning is also being carried out around the region by the NDIA community drainage and irrigation workers.
Already many areas have been significantly drained off and is expected that the remaining low lying areas will see rapid improvement once there is no high intensity rainfall. The NDIA is appealing to all Regional Democratic Councils and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils to intensify monitoring.

---

---