Brazil military to build eight wells in Rupununi

Aug 06, 2016 News

Chairman of the National Taskforce Commission Major General Ret’d Joe Singh, announced on Thursday that the Brazilian Military will be constructing eight well drains in South Rupununi. This is to address the drought

During the 2016 Drought in the Rupununi: Volunteers moving an Arapaima to deeper water.

vulnerability of the Rupununi area.
Maj Gen Singh met with media operatives to inform the public about the developments which the commission has done within the one year it has been in operation.
According to the Major General, wells are being dug in the North and Central Rupununi. He said that after the disastrous drought which began in early 2015. He added that the effects of the drought caused the authorities to approach the Brazilian Military to offer assistance in drilling the wells.
The Well Drain Programme should see some 24 wells being drilled across the region. It is expected that the Brazilian team will begin working later this month into September. It was reported during the drought that the hardest communities were North Rupununi and Anaputa, outside of Annai.
Region one was also hit in the latter part of last year and it was in the same community that there was an outbreak of gastroenteritis. Residents were desperately in need for water. Monetary relief to residents amounted to $8M.
According to Major General Singh the Brazilian Military was approached before the drought came to an end. However, when they arrived to begin work the rain began to fall causing the existing wells to swell.
Singh said that the Civil Defence Commission is coordinating the project. During the drought, both animals and crops were affected. It was reported that the scorching heat destroyed crops to the point that the savannahs were almost unrecognizable.
He said that animals were literally falling dead and fish were found dead in the dried up rivers, lakes and ponds.
It was reported that 85 per cent of the hand dug wells in Region one were dried up. Of those built by the Guyana Water Incorporated Inc. 50% had stopped functioning properly. The most affected areas in the region were South Pakaraimas, YurongParu, Paipang, Taushida, Tiger Pond and Rukumuta.
According to Maj Gen Singh during the 2016 phase of the drought, residents in the Rupununi had to relocate a number of Arapaima to deep water. Additionally he made mention of the migration of White Lipped Peccary, a hog-like animal, from Guyana to the Rio Branco.
He said that research shows that the last sighting of the animal in West Rupununi was nearly two years ago. He credits this migration as an impact of climate on Guyana’s biodiversity. At least 120 of these animals were seen leaving Guyana for the Rio Branco, which is a Brazilian municipality located in the valley of the Acre Rive.