The Ministry of Agriculture yesterday awarded some $213.3M in contracts for drainage and irrigation (D&I) works in Regions Three (West Demerara/ Essequibo Islands) and Four (Demerara/Mahaica)

The projects in Region Three entail the construction of a $41.5M sluice at Waterloo, Leguan, and a $24.8M drainage structure at Amersfort, Wakenaam.

Jainul Hoosain Civil Engineering Contracting Services will undertake the Leguan initiative, which includes the construction of timber revetment, placement of foundation piles and installation of cable and winch.

That project, along with the construction of drainage structure at Wakenaam, has a six month duration.

The latter will be executed by S. Khan General Contracting Services, and involves the excavation of outfall channel and also the construction of timber revetment and placement of foundation piles.

Harry Tulsi was awarded the Greenfield project which has one year duration and requires the installation of two mechanically driven pumps, construction of a pump house, construction of a new reinforcement concrete pump sump, construction of a pump basin, installation of two new right angle gear drives, and installation of two diesel driven engines.

Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud, speaking at the signing ceremony at the Ministry on Vlissengen Road, said the work to be carried out is in direct response to current and long standing needs in these communities.

Over the past 18 months, he pointed out, the Government has undertaken massive rehabilitation of D&I works on Leguan and Wakenaam.

Persaud said for the first time in many years, an excavator, managed and operated by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), has been committed to carry our critical D&I work on those two islands.

“Further to that, we have looked at reactivating and increasing the drainage capacity of these areas, mainly through the reactivation and construction of new sluices,” he said.

Acknowledging the vulnerability of the East Coast Demerara to flooding as a result of unseasonable rain, the minister said the project at Greenfield will bring significant relief to farmers and residents.

Currently, two mobile pumps are in operation at Greenfield but they are intended to be in other critical areas in case of an emergency.

He noted the pump station to be built at Greenfield will replace an existing one there that has been out of operation for some 30 years.

Persaud disclosed that in an effort to reduce the amount of siltation that affects the Greenfield and Hope sluices, his ministry will make requisitions in next year’s budget for the construction of groynes at these locations.

This, he said, is part of national drive to deal with the effects of climate change and yesterday’s awards represent yet another significant investment in the agriculture sector.

Persaud stressed too greater emphasis will be placed on monitoring the progress of these projects, and soon the NDIA capacity will be boosted with the recruitment of four Guyanese engineers who have completed studies in Cuba.

He had recently invited farmers, the public, and the media to monitor all projects under his ministry.

Leguan Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Chairman Mr. Durga Persaud said the initiative in his locale will open up some 2,800 acres of farmland which had to be abandoned because of flooding.

Waterloo suffered flooding during periods of heavy rainfall in 2005, 2008 and 2009. The sluice which is part of the NDIA capital works programme will increase drainage of the area by some 40 per cent.

Wakenaam NDC Chairman Mr. Zakir Khan remarked that the structure at Amersfort will provide drainage for 2100 acres of farmland and will significantly improve drainage on the island.

The new farmlands, he said, will be used for rice, coconut and provision cultivation.

Acting NDIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr. Lionel Wordswoth said the contracts were awarded through the national competitive bidding process.