THE international consultants working with their local partners on the Hope Canal project will soon submit a preliminary report on their findings and available options.

Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Robert Persaud made the disclosure at a media briefing last week in his Vlissengen Road, Georgetown office.

He explained that the technical work being done entails the examination of various models to confirm the location and general outlook of the outfall.

According to Persaud, after that aspect has been completed, the contractor will then look at the design before proceeding to the public procurement process prior to the commencement of actual construction work.

He said the broad base committee, which was set up to deal with compensation for the affected individuals and families, is at a point where it will soon be offering these persons packages for their lands, activities and homes.

The proposed $3 billion Hope Canal, which is to ease the pressure on the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) dam, will be six and a half miles long.

Government, in the 2009 National Budget, allocated $2 billion for phase one of the execution.

Increased rainfall, as a result of changing climatic conditions, reduction in the flow capacity on the southern side of the conservancy into the Demerara River, the need for greater storage in the massive waterway to meet the demands of the additional lands under cultivation and the expanded areas being cultivated have been cited as key factors for the construction of the new channel from the EDWC.

Technical studies have indicated that the drainage facility should be between Nabaclis and Shanks Canal, 11 miles east of Nabaclis, all on East Coast Demerara.