Traffic diverted as work on Hope Canal progresses

Jan 27, 2012 News

The main highway at the Hope/ Douchfour area, East Coast Demerara (ECD) was officially closed off on Monday, last, and traffic is now being detoured through a bypass constructed at Hope as work on the Hope Canal progresses.
“The contractor has begun to mobilize equipment on site and construction work is expected to begin this week. Most of the components have been prefabricated,” Agriculture Minister Dr Leslie Ramsammy said.
The Hope Canal, or what is called the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) Northern Relief Channel, is only now about 25 percent complete.
It is expected that the construction of the Relief Channel will boost the water management in the area and improve drainage capacity into the Atlantic Ocean.
Dr. Ramsammy disclosed that EDWC Relief Channel at Hope/Douchfour is a project designed to improve drainage and irrigation and is an example of how the country is responding in its adaptation programme for climate change.
Kaieteur News understands that this project is being executed in four stages which are being completed concurrently.
It includes the construction of the actual relief channel from the EDWC to the Atlantic Ocean and the construction of the Head Regulator at the Conservancy.
The latter would allow release of water from the EDWC into the channel for disposal into the Atlantic.
A sluice system at the seawall end will also be constructed to allow water to move into the Atlantic and the fourth stage is the construction of a bridge on the East Coast Public Road through which the Relief Channel will pass.
According to Dr. Ramsammy, his Ministry expects that the actual channel will be completed by December 2012 and the rest of the project will be completed by May 2013.
He also explained that the channel’s construction has caused some disruption in the activities of farmers and the Ministry through its National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) department has been working with those affected to assist them in getting through the disruption period.
“The Ministry of Agriculture apologizes to everyone that has been inconvenienced, and hopes that we can reduce and eliminate all discomfort as the project implementation accelerates. At the same time, we appeal to everyone to see the long term benefits of the project to everyone.”
In some cases, some farmers have been compensated for losses incurred.
It was recently reported in the media that a number of farmers suffered when some stockpiled material over spilt into farmlands owned by these farmers.
This newspaper was further told that a meeting was held with those affected to discuss relief packages and that the NDIA has completed arrangements with most of these farmers.

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