Major East Coast drainage project 90% completed
-will assist drainage in Bee Hive/Greenfield
Georgetown, GINA, March 12, 2012
Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture Alli Baksh is taken on a tour of the Greenfield North pumping station
Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture Alli Baksh and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth, on Saturday visited Greenfield pump station which is currently undergoing construction.
Minister Baksh said that he was happy with the progress of the works which will soon be completed.
“I am pleased to note that the CEO has taken the initiative with support from government to undertake such a project in a crucial area which will add to the existing system available for drainage on the East Coast…Government will be spending more than $200M to construct this new drainage pump station,” Minister Baksh said.
The Bee Hive, Greenfield areas, during times of heavy and excessive rainfall, would quickly accumulate water.
“This in many instances would lead to prolonged flooding…building this station is part of the wider adaptation plan of resuscitating old sluices and building new sluices along the East Coast particularly at Mahaica and Mahaicony,” Minister Baksh said.
A section of the 90% completed Greenfield North pumping station
Wordsworth said that the objective of the project is to have a more reliable and efficient point of drainage and to enhance the entire drainage discharge of the Greenfield Bee Hive areas, as such the pumping stations which consist of two mechanically driven diesel powered engines will see the objective being accomplished.
Left to be completed are the installation of the engine, the dredging of the inlet channel and the construction of a perimeter fence.
“I am happy that we are able to build such a facility in a vulnerable area like this…I have been out here and seen the problems and challenges faced in the area…there is a sluice here on the South side of the facility which additionally drains this area but, there are still challenges in terms of keeping the outfall channel clear…we currently have a pontoon and two excavators stationed there because very often we have to clear it because of very fluid sling mud deposits in the channel which pose problems of proper drainage,” Wordsworth said.
A section of the Greenfield North pumping station
He added that the new facility will enhance capacity to drain the area and will aid in clearing the outfall channels, as the orientation of the pumps were so designed to discharge into the outfall channel.
Government has been fostering the expansion of agriculture in Guyana through the provision of improved drainage and irrigation structures, however given the many issues faced relating to drainage, several mechanisms were put in place as temporary solutions. The construction of the Greenfield pump station is a permanent solution to curtail the effects of flash flood, and heavy and excessive rainfall flooding to the areas.
Government spent $4.5B to strengthen drainage and irrigation structures countrywide in 2011 as it recognises the need to fortify the country against the effects of climate change whilst assit the thousands of households that depend directly on agriculture for sustenance and protect farmlands.
