IN its continued effort to sustain the economic livelihood of citizens who are most vulnerable to flooding, Government has allotted over $2 billion for construction, rehabilitation, restoration and maintenance of sea and river defence structures.

Under the National Funded Programme of the Sea and River Defence Division, Ministry of Public Works and Communications, four contracts were awarded recently which will see works done at Corentyne, East Bank Berbice and West Canje.

The sum of $467M was awarded for the construction of 810 meters rip-rap river defence at Line Path, Corentyne which will be done by B.K. International Inc.

The company was also granted a $5.2M contract for the rehabilitation of River Dam at Lochaber, West Canje.

Additionally, a $5.9M contract was awarded for the rehabilitation of River Dam, Sisters Village, while another valued $6.6M was awarded for the rehabilitation of earthen Embankment at Glasgow, East Bank Berbice to M&B Construction Company. Works for the four contracts are expected to commence shortly.

Tenders for the maintenance of the grouted boulder slope at No. 78 Village and Springlands, Corentyne Berbice in Regions Six are scheduled to be opened on Thursday.

The Ministry is awaiting the award from the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board for the construction of 110 meters river defence at Moleson Creek.

The Public Works Ministry, through the European Union (EU), is funding the reconstruction of 200 meters sea defences at No. 77/78 Villages Corentyne at a total cost of 13.5M Euros. B.K. International Inc. was awarded the contract and works are to begin before year-end.

Works under the Sea and River Defence Division are being executed in three categories: Foreign Funded Programmes, National Funded Programmes and Maintenance Programmes.

The Division has categorised the sea defence works into eight districts: District One, Essequibo Coast; District Two, Wakenaam, District Three, Leguan; District Four, West Demerara; District Five, Timehri/Mahaica; District Six, Mahaica/Abary; District Seven, Abary/West Berbice and District Eight, Corentyne.

To date, a lot of work has been completed including the construction of 600 meters rip rap sea defence at Sea Spray Leonora, West Coast Demerara, Region Three; river defence works at Craig, East Bank Demerara, Region Four; construction of rip rap sea defences at Belladrum/Hope West Coast Demerara, Region Five; river defence works at Gangaram Village, Region Six and gabion basket groynes at Riverview, Region Ten among others. (GINA)