City Hall, said a coincidence of the occurrence and high tides caused overtopping in some wards and the situation for drainage was further impaired by a power outage which temporarily prevented the operations of pumps at Liliendaal and Kitty.

Public Relations Officer, Mr. Royston King said the disruption of electricity supply to the pumps, both of which are in working order, allowed for an increased amount of water to accumulate.

Later, though, Deputy Mayor, Mr. Robert Williams reported that pumping had resumed and some of the flow had been drained.

King had said ,the release of the first $10M government grant ,would facilitate the availability of more resources, for desilting and other ongoing drainage works.

He appealed, to citizens to show environmental responsibility ,by disposing of waste, such as plastic, styrofoam and other non-biodegradable materials in a proper manner.

King, again emphasised, that garbage continues to impact negatively on the municipal drainage system.

Meanwhile, about 50 per cent of the rice farmers in Region 3 (West Demerara/Essequibo Islands), are facing the risk of losing their crops as a result of the unseasonal rainfall, Rice Producers Association (RPA) General Secretary, Mr. Dharamkumar Seeraj said.

He said continuing showers, have flooded fields and made dams impassable at the time ,when farmers should be harvesting.

Seeraj disclosed ,that half of the crop in that Region ,has already been harvested, but the current weather made the reaping very difficult.

He said, the main problem is, that rain saturated the plants, causing them to fall and the planters to lose the grains.

Seeraj said, of the six rice producing regions, Region Three is hardest hit by the rain, followed by Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica ), to a lesser extent.

“The plants in Regions 5(Mahaica/Berbice) and 6(East Berbice/Corentyne) are young, so they are not in danger as yet. But the remainder of those in Region Three are in a dire situation,” he said, adding that the RPA, is on high alert to assist affected farmers, in whatever way practicable.

Even while ,sections of the city were under flood waters yesterday, weather conditions in Regions Five and Six were relatively dry, with sunshine predominating, officials and residents in both said. (CLIFFORD STANLEY)