Guyana, Japan to ink agreement for conservancy upgrade

Oct 15, 2010 News

– pontoons, excavators, sluices included
Guyana and Japan are set to sign a major agreement today that could see an estimated $1.4B in grants to strengthen the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC).

The Japanese delegation met with Minister Robert Persaud yesterday.

Yesterday, a six-man team of experts met with government and engineers where it was announced that a two-component approach would be taken on the project.
In the first phase, the Japanese government would be assisting in the procurement of two pontoons and six excavators that will be used in the EDWC. This is expected to realised within the next 14 months. The disclosure was made during a meeting with Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud.
In the second phase, major rehabilitation will be done to the Cunha and Maduni sluices.
Additional works will also be done to strengthen the Hope, Anns Grove, Annandale and Nancy intake structures.
With regard to the second component, the Japanese would undertake a study/survey with the aim to come up with a detailed design.
According to Persaud, President Bharrat Jagdeo had visited Japan a few years ago and requested assistance to boost the integrity of the EDWC.
‘In response to a request from the Government of Guyana, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) decided to conduct a survey for the rehabilitation on the East Demerara Water Conservancy in Region Four.”
The team was led by Yoshiyuki Goya, Executive Technical Adviser to the Director General, Rural Development Department, JICA.
During the survey of the conservancy, the Japanese officials agreed that there were issues affecting areas, and that these should be addressed urgently to reduce the impact of flooding. “Taking into consideration these circumstances, the JICA team made recommendations including the rehabilitation of the embankment, rehabilitation of relief sluices, rehabilitation of intake structures and procuring construction machines for the EDWC. The Japanese team also agreed that it would sign on to have a two component project with the Government of Guyana.”
The budgeted cost of the project is estimated around US$6.8M ($1.4B).
The EDWC has been coming under increasing attention within recent years because of the vulnerability facing farmlands and homes along the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara and the constant threat from overtopping and breaches.
There have been breaches on sections of the conservancy in the past, leading to flooding in many East Coast Demerara communities. Over recent years, authorities had been eyeing the Demerara River more as a critical drainage point. Structures from the conservancy leading to the Demerara River would be upgraded under the project.
Also at the meeting yesterday with the team was Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, Lionel Wordsworth.