IN wake of the heavy rainfall which has affected several regions namely Regions 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 10, Government has been working extensively to drain the water off the land as quickly as possible.

However, according to the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), the lead agency for drainage and irrigation, farmers and residents are not adhering to its call not to compromise the drainage and irrigation structures.

In Region Three, it was reported by the Regional Chairman, Julius Faerber that farmers were removing the boards of the intake at the Parika/Ruby area and this resulted in flooding. The boards have since been replaced and the water is receding. He added that the rains would be continuing and persons must be on the alert for such incidents.

Recently it was reported that a dam was breached at Black Bush Polder, Region Six, which caused water to flow into the residential area.

Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud has had to intervene to bring the situation back to normalcy. Zulfikar Mustapha, Region Six Chairman had also called for farmers not to breach drainage and irrigation structures since there have been 18 breaches of dams by residents and farmers.

In Region 4, Minister Persaud had noted that on the Victoria Crown Dam there were 22 cuts and there were reports of persons removing the inlet structures as well as objects being thrown into the pump area.

According to the Minister, this has resulted in one-third of the drainage capacity in the area being reduced. It was also reported that seven pumps had so far been damaged as a result of vandalism. This had resulted in heavy accumulation of water in Victoria and Golden Grove.

In the Greenfield/Dochfour area earlier, there were reports emanating of a winch being removed by person or persons which had compounded the situation in the community and had led to flooding in those areas.

The NDIA also had to ask private estate owners aback of the same area to take care of their drainage and irrigation structures since water was overflowing from their land into the community. Additional pumps were deployed to the area and a dam was cut to drain water.

At Paradise, East Coast Demerara, the removal of the dirt from a dam which was sold by the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) had led to water remaining on the land since the area has now become a basin.

The NDIA also cleaned and cleared drains which were the responsibility of the NDC. Areas such as Dazzell Housing Scheme were severely affected as a result. The NDIA has since deployed two pumps to the area. Water is now receding.

The Minister of Agriculture has consistently called for farmers and residents to desist from such actions since they would compound the work of the NDIA. (GINA)