Latest update March 23rd, 2025 9:41 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

It would be an engineering miracle if the Hope Canal is finished by year end

Dec 23, 2014 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
I refer to an article in your paper dated December 21, 2014, with regard to the Hope Canal, and to state from what I observed after a visit to the site just over a week ago, a lot of work is yet to be completed.
It would be an engineering miracle if the project is finished by year end. The outfall has to be excavated, sea defences built on both sides of the wing walls, backfilling has to be completed, sluice doors to be installed and electrical operation of the sluice doors etc., are among a number of other aspects yet to be completed.
I also feel the Government and its Consultants have now brought the problems of the East Demerara Water Conservancy out to public area. In my opinion, having designed and built numerous sluices, drainage works and sea defences throughout the coastlands, there is a strong possibility of a breach occurring between the wing walls of the sluice and the tie-in to the existing conservancy dam.
I also feel uplift forces due to a hydraulic head are also possible to act on the sluice floor causing displacement at certain times of the year. Also the timber piles are designed to support vertical loads not uplift forces on the sluice. It should also be noted that a sluice built in Boeraserie during the 1950s, under similar soil conditions, floated away shortly after construction.
I also feel the earth dam, 12 to 16 feet high, built on a pegasse foundation, is susceptible to failure and slips. I understand there is already a failure in the dam – some 200 feet of slippage. Placing geotextile material under the dam to strengthen the pegasse foundation is bogus engineering.
Lastly, in my opinion this entire project is a waste of money. To drain the conservancy all you have to do is remove the vegetation, mount a dragline on a pontoon, and design and excavate a hydraulic drainage path towards the Land of Canaan Sluice. This is how the conservancy was drained for many years.
M. Alli

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show|| March, 17th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Reliance Hustlers delighted for Youth Programme support from First Lady

Reliance Hustlers delighted for Youth Programme support from First...

Mar 23, 2025

Kaieteur Sports- President of Reliance Hustlers Sports Club Trevis Simon has expressed delight for the support of the Youth Programme from First Lady Arya Ali under her National Beautification...
Read More
Relentless Chase demoralize West Dem’ to remain unbeaten

Relentless Chase demoralize West Dem’ to remain...

Mar 23, 2025

AAG makes history with US$300K Adidas sponsorship deal

AAG makes history with US$300K Adidas sponsorship...

Mar 23, 2025

Historic NSC sponsored GGA 2nd Annual National Long Drive Championships set for March 29

Historic NSC sponsored GGA 2nd Annual National...

Mar 23, 2025

St. Lucia’s Elite Blazers takes aim at FIBA 3×3 World Tour in Edmonton

St. Lucia’s Elite Blazers takes aim at FIBA...

Mar 22, 2025

Petra/Milo U18 Football kicks off Round II action today

Petra/Milo U18 Football kicks off Round II action...

Mar 22, 2025

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]