Latest update December 23rd, 2024 3:40 AM
Airy Hall conservancy breach
The Region Two Administration is currently carrying out repairs to the damaged irrigation Canal dam, aback of Airy Hall/Riverstown to avert a further catastrophe. Water flowed through a breach in the dam over the weekend and submerged some five acres of cultivated rice land in Airy Hall.
One of the flooded yards.
Another 200 rice fields are similarly being threatened in Riverstown.
A contractor has been hired by the Region Two Administration to seal the breach in an effort to prevent water from continuously overflowing in already affected areas.
Irate farmers lamented that while the Region Two Administration was informed of the initial breach of the irrigated dam some four to five months ago, the Region was not fully equipped with compatible machinery to undertake repairs of the dam. The result is major flooding of rice lands in the Airy Hall/Riverstown areas.
Farmers have said that the dam leading to the affected irrigated canal dam has since eroded and proper works to effect maintenance should be executed by the Administration urgently.
Rice farmer, Sugrim Bijadhar, of Airy-Hall said he has lost almost $700,000 in rice, and other cash crops that have been submerged for the past seven days.
Bijadhar said that the excess water into farmers’ land is a result of the tampering of the irrigated canal dam and not rainfall.
Asif Yacoob, whose land is also under water, said that he has since lost 70 ducks,
The breached irrigation dam behind Airy Hall/Riverstown, Essequibo Coast
some sheep and rabbits.
Another rice farmer, Nazim Mohamed is questioning who would compensate affected farmers. Four and a half acres of his cultivated rice lands have also been inundated with water, almost seven days now.
Persons in the area are also claiming that another farmer was seen installing a six inch pipe in the dam to lead water to his rice land, which has resulted in the massive breakage of the irrigated dam.
Alliance For Change Regional Councillor, Bhowanie Persaud and A Partnership For Unity Councillor, Wazeer Latiff, spoke with those affected while on a visit to the affected area.
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