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NDC and contractors butt heads over removal of dirt at No.58 Village for construction in Berbice
Kaieteur News – Contractors who have been removing sand along the stretch of new road at No.58 Village, Corentyne, Berbice have been met with resistance from residents and the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) in the district.
The NDC has said that the relevant permissions were not sought and granted to dig at such depths and distance, ultimately causing damage to the newly constructed $1 Billion farm-to-market road that was commissioned by President Irfaan Ali last year. Truck drivers employed by the contractors to transport the dirt had blocked the No.58 Public Road with their trucks on Tuesday grinding traffic to a halt for approximately 15 minutes.
Chairman of the 52/74 Neighbourhood Democratic Council, Emraj Gansham said that after receiving several complaints they visited the location in an effort to speak to the truck drivers digging and transporting the sand for ongoing works in the region to desist from doing so unless the proper permissions are granted. “…after receiving a number of complaints from residents, this is the third time I am asking these truck drivers to seek the relevant permission from the NDC before they come and do their digging using our road. None didn’t come to NDC and I have asked them many times to come….they must report to the NDC when doing digging etc.” Gansham said.
He added that the digging and the use of the heavy-duty trucks transporting the sand have resulted in damage to the newly built farm to market road. “This road will definitely cave in with the current depth of digging. We are currently working out a solution. We understand that they have to go through a process to seek permission from the Geology and Mines Commission, EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)…” Gansham noted. He stated that engineers attached to the Ministry of Public Works visited the location Tuesday and they are currently working out a solution to the issue.
Meanwhile, one of the contractors, Anirudh Ramcharitar said he and his colleagues have been digging at the location for the past two months and that the land that is being dug is transported land that was bought by them. He said there was a verbal understanding between the NDC and them and that “we worked with the NDC verbal understanding”.
Images showing the depth of the digging close to the road
Ramcharitar said that the NDC visited about three weeks ago and had put some specifications in place with one of them being that 12ft is left from the edge of the road and according to the contractor that was done. “Monday they came back and halt the operation …they said the road damaging…there were cracks in the road but that was before we started. They brought some technical people Tuesday…”. He stated that they were given the go ahead to dig by the engineers and that they (contractors) have made a commitment that any damage done to the road as a result of their actions and usage, will be fixed, noting that a new contract will be put in place for that cause.
Gobin Harbhajan, a community activist had mentioned that he had brought the issue to the NDC’s attention and had also contacted the relevant ministers on the matter. He opined that “contractors digging both side of the road must follow the rules and regulations for approval to be given by the NDC and other relevant agencies.
According to Harbhajan, “these trucks are over 40 ton and they are rattling the foundation, the digging that is being done will eventually lead to erosion…” He said that contractors are looking at the easier way out considering all the construction that is currently ongoing in the region. He added that while development is welcomed, contractors executing these works also have to be considerate. He said there are many other locations that these contractors can access the soil needed for construction. He suggested the Alness backlands, No.42 backlands and Bushlot backlands. Harbhajan noted that with what is being done at 58 Village “it defeats the purpose of the farm to market road”. President Ali at the opening of the road had said that the farm-to-market road project is part of a “larger infrastructure plan which will lead all the way to the Canje Creek and will open up over 50,000 acres of land for production.”
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