Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud has reported that work is taking place in all drainage and irrigation (D&I) areas to minimise the consequences of the rainy season.

He gave the assurance at a recent engagement convened at his Regent and Vlissengen Streets, Georgetown, Ministry.

“A lot of work is taking place on the crown dam, the Canal Polders area, the conservancies; we have sluices under construction, and there is a lot of maintenance, spraying of canals, working with the community development groups and the Water Users Association,” Persaud said.

He noted that in Region Six, (East Berbice/ Corentyne) major work is taking place at Number 19 Village, Black Bush Polder, and Crab Wood Creek.

In Region Five (Mahaica/Berbice), Persaud pointed out that the Abary River is being dredged, major work is being undertaken on the parallel canal at Mahaicony, as well as raising the embankment in the Mahaica/Mahaicony areas to benefit farmers.

Even though Linden, Region 10 (Upper Demerara/Berbice) is not a D&I area, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will soon undertake clearing of vital creeks there in preparation for the mid-year rains.

Similarly, the minister said, significant work is also being done along the East Coast Demerara, Region Four (Demerara/Mahaica) and on the Essequibo Coast, Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam).

He however explained that despite these efforts, certain low lying areas are vulnerable to flooding, and as such, the preparations lay the foundation to minimise, if not prevent the concomitant impact.

The NDIA is responsible for maintenance of all primary drains, while all secondary works are undertaken by the various regional administrations with some support from the Ministry of Agriculture.

In addition, NDIA has already deployed 23 mobile pumps at strategic locations in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six, in anticipation of the mid-year rains.

Persaud said these will complement the existing 78 pumps of varying capacity in the drainage system.

According to him, the well-planned preparations year after year tie in with government’s wider master plan in adapting to climate change through substantial investments in projects geared to shield the agriculture sector from the negative impact accompanying the phenomenon.

Meanwhile, he said though the NDIA is not responsible for drainage in the city, that agency lends support to City Hall to neutralise its short comings.

Persaud disclosed too that his ministry is spending some $150M to improve drainage in Georgetown.

“We are putting in two new pumps at Kitty and are totally refurbishing the pumps at Liliendaal. We have also undertaken to refurbish the entire Downer Canal because we want the water to feed there. Also, our engineers continue to lend technical support to the Mayor and City Council,” he said.

Chief Hydromet Officer Ms. Bhaleka Suelall said forecast models indicate there are reasonably high probabilities of normal rainfall during this coming wet season.

She said, notwithstanding that, there are likely to be periods of high intensity rainfall.

“Preparations for short periods of heavy downpours during the season must be considered,” Suelall cautioned.