Work on ECD four lane highway causes flooding in Mon Repos

Aug 29, 2013 News

Several Mon Repos South residences were flooded yesterday as a result of water overtopping one of the community’s main drainage canals, which was blocked to facilitate the ongoing East Coast Demerara Public Road four-lane construction.
The overtopping of the drainage canal is a result of heavy rainfall over the past two days.
However this is not the first time the area was flooded and residents believe it is time that the Ministry of Public Works and the contractor come up with a system to have effective drainage. From the commencement of the four-lane widening project in that section of the East Coast of Demerara, drainage was a major concern of residents, since the area is susceptible to flooding and the project involved blocking and filling the main trenches.

The cutting of the mud dam to allow the water to drain

According to a resident, Naresh Shivram, water started overflowing the blocked trench at around 7:00am, forcing him to relocate his poultry. His main concern is the health impact the resulting unclean flood water would have on his family.
Shivram said it is understandable that the contractor, Colin Talbot, needs to execute certain works to construct the roadway, but residents’ everyday living should be taken into consideration. He said the “slow pace” of the project is affecting residents, adding that the community’ drains are emptied into the main trench that has been blocked to facilitate the road works. About two weeks ago, water in the trench was stagnant and a pungent scent was emanating, Shivram added.
His neighbour, Campton Charan, who operates a shop, shared similar sentiments. According to Charan, he recently started a business at his home and the water has destroyed his new carpet. The father of two said he is worried that bacteria in the water would harm his toddlers.
Charan said that last week, he was forced to rush his two-year-old to the hospital because of an air borne infection. He is suspicious that the stagnant water was the source.
Meanwhile, another resident expressed different views from his neighbours. The man said he spoke twice to the contractor, who promised to remove part of the blockage to allow the water to flow.
Whilst, acknowledging the contractor needs to hasten works, he believes it is necessary for the contractor to block the waterway to erect the road. He emphasized that this is only temporary and when the road is complete residents and commuters would benefit.
Kaieteur News observed a mud dam was built inside the trench preventing the flow of water. A man was seen cutting a section of the barrier. But the man and others around distanced themselves from the contactor.

Resident, Naresh Shivram, walks through the flooded street.

However, a source said the men were indeed part of the construction team. The source blamed the flooding on negligence, since, as part of a paid item in the contract the contractor is required to control the water. It was recommended that the Ministry applies the provisions in the contract. In addition, the contractor is expected to have an Environmental Officer on site but this is not the case.
The Ministry’s Co-ordinator of Works Services Group, Geoffrey Vaughn was unable to give a detailed comment on the issue since he did not have the information at hand and was going into a meeting.
He, however, noted that it only started raining in the area two days ago and “things do happen and one can’t just jump to conclusion.”

1 thoughts on “Work on ECD four lane highway causes flooding in Mon Repos”

besmart August 29, 2013 at 10:03 am

I saw this coming..By the time they finish building the toilet they already mess in their underwear .

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