NDIA workers intensify drainage works
By Tash Van Doimen, Tuesday, 3 December 2013, Source
WORKERS of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) intensified their drainage plan works Friday morning, putting into operation two open back trucks and an excavator to clear the canal between Vlissengen Road and Irving Street.The work is part of the NDIA’s Drainage Plan to prepare for the rainy season and reduce the occurrence of flooding. The workers were tasked with clearing the canal of all debris to allow the water to flow freely, thereby reducing the possibility of water accumulation in the area.
And within the next few days the work team was expected to clear the canal separating Vlissengen Road and Irving Street from Church Street to Carifesta Avenue. This work is intended to improve drainage and irrigation in the city with the release of any excess water.
Two open back trucks and an excavator that were seen working along Irving Street removing the overgrown grass and build-up of garbage from the canal hindered the flow of traffic and left a trail of slush and muddied water along the road.
Early in November, Minister of Agriculture, Dr Leslie Ramsammy had said that the NDIA was going to take extra care to monitor drainage and irrigation structures as well as equipment and machinery. He explained that they would be working closely with all the Regional Democratic Councils and pump station operators to ensure that they have enough lubricants and 48 hours of fuel available at all times.
OUTFALL DREDGING
Meanwhile, the NDIA is also working to speed up outfall dredging in Regions 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 and ensure that all pumps are ready for continuous operation. Additionally, they will be deploying a minimum of 20 mini-excavators to various communities to help with maintenance of secondary and tertiary structures.
Last Wednesday a heavy and prolonged downpour caused accumulation of water in parts of Region 2, 3 and 4 as well as flooding in Georgetown which severely affected some commercial and residential areas. The inclement weather caused inconvenience to persons in their daily routine at business places as well as the suspension of schools.
Meanwhile, President Donald Ramotar has expressed profound concern for citizens and businesses located in Georgetown who were severely impacted by the flooding. The Head of State said that even though the 5.1 inches of rainfall was a lot for the six-hour period, the impact could have been significantly lessened had there been a better functioning City Council.
“The APNU manages the City; they are in control of the City at this point in time, and we have seen a lot of neglect,” the President lamented.
Over the last few years, the Government of Guyana has pumped in millions of dollars to bail out a heavily indebted City Council as a result of mismanagement of its resources.
At the moment, the government through the Ministries of Agriculture and Public Works, is doing all that it can to remove floodwater from the land as quickly as possible.
The President posited that hopefully with the holding of the long-awaited local government elections, this situation will be resolved soon.
Heavy rainfall that flooded Region 4 and parts of Regions 2 and 3 was attributed to a high pressure system over the Bermuda which forced the Inter-tropical Convergence Zone (ICTZ) to shift from its last position, to about six degrees north of the equator, bringing it directly over Guyana’s Coast.
The rainfall recorded at the Botanical Gardens measured 128.9mm or 5.1 inches, the highest recorded in the city since 1892.
Drainage Works: The excavator at work scooping out debris from the canal between Irving Street and Vlissengen Road (Photo by Sonell Nelson)
