Multi Stakeholder agencies visit Coomacka…seek solutions to erosion, flooding

May 12, 2017 News

By Enid Joaquin
A team of multi stakeholder agencies on Wednesday visited Coomacka to determine the way forward to stem the erosion that has resulted in a huge sand beach that is presently on the verge of bridging the Demerara River, and also to identify solutions as regards the beach itself, which has over recent years made the community prone to flooding.
Among the team were officials from MARAD, the Civil Defence Commission, Public Infrastructure Ministry, officials from Bosai and Region Ten chairman Renis Morian and Councillors.
Some of the immediate short term solutions suggested included the dredging of the river, and carting away of the sand which could be used to build up low-lying areas.
Over the past few decades, Coomacka has become a flood prone community, due to the high volume of water and sand that washes down from mined out sites in the old Montgomery and Arrowcane mines.
Morian said that following several visits to Coomacka by the Regional Works committee, it was recognized that the issues are bigger than what any single agency could handle, thus a decision was made to write various agencies.
Morian said that President David Granger and Minister Joseph Harmon responded, and that the latter requested a mult- agency meeting which was held last week Thursday in Georgetown.
“So coming out of that meeting is why we are here today – to see what we could do for the short term, to the medium term and the long term”.
Drainage and Irrigation specialist Heman Persaud, said that because of Coomacka’s position -only seven metres above sea level, while other areas are between nine and twenty metres above mean sea level, the area would constantly be under threat of flooding. He pointed out that as a result of the river combining with the water that comes down with a force from the mountain, there would always be close to six or seven feet of water in the community during heavy rainfall as happens during the May/June season.
“So one of the biggest decisions I think you guys should make is to look at relocating the persons that are here, because from now to infinity, that (flooding) is always going to be a problem.”
Councillor Charles Sampson said that the situation with the heavy siltation and flooding is something that never used to happen in the past, as constant dredging was done of the Demerara River. He said that the problem is not a simple one, but one that needs a lot of engineering studies.
Director General of the Civil Defence Commission Chabilall Ramsaroop, noted, “Last Friday when we met, we talked about stopping the flow of the sand that has been coming down into the Demerara River, and stopping the flow that sometimes enters the homes of residents, whenever it rains heavily, and we also have to look at the bridge and what can be done about it, as it can go at any time. Then we have to look at the blockage of the Demerara River, and the region was supposed to look at that – to see how they dredge the river, to ensure that smooth flow…not only dredging the river to ensure… but where we’re going to put the spoils – so we have to estimate the spoils and where it’s going to go, and estimate the cost. So what we are looking at today is a short term, a medium term, and a long term plan – whether or not we have to relocate those people… we might have to look at that on the long term.”
He noted that the May/June rains have started, and so ways of stopping the flow of sand are now imperative.
Ramsaroop said that if the sand barrier (beach) is not removed from the Demerara River urgently, it would block the flow of the river, which would result in the flooding not only of Coomacka, but other communities further upstream.
Regional Chairman Morian is meanwhile engaging a contractor, with regard to the removal of some of the sand that makes up the beach. He said that works are expected to begin shortly, and that this would be a short term solution.

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