As is often the case with Mr. Charles Sohan, he has yet again distorted the facts regarding the newly commenced East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) northern relief channel at Hope/Dochfour, in his article titled “The Hope Canal will not be a substitute for the Lama and Maduni sluices” in the Stabroek News dated Friday, March 18, 2011.
With regard to the Minister of Agriculture’s statement that, with the completion of the Hope Canal, residents and farmers will be relieved of the fear of flooding, this is true, since the EDWC would be the beneficiary of a new, additional outlet which would be an option to drain the conservancy rather that draining water through the Maduni and Lama sluices, and exacerbating water levels in the upper reaches of the Mahaica and Mahaicony creeks.
Responding to the statement made by Mr. Sohan that the Hope/Dochfour relief channel could not be considered a substitute for the Lama and Maduni sluices, the same consultant’s report that was quoted has stated that “The Hope/Dochfour relief channel would reduce the frequency with which the Lama sluices would operate. The Lama small sluice could be operated rarely, while the frequency of operation of the Lama big sluice could be reduced from more than once in 20 years to about once in 50 years”. These statements in the consultant’s report clearly support what the Minister of Agriculture is saying. As an engineer, Mr. Sohan has chosen bits and pieces of the consultant’s report that best suits his campaign to malign this major project and to continue deceiving the public. In so doing, Mr. Sohan has misinterpreted what the consultants were clearly saying. To add to the incorrect statements made by this individual, the report quoted from what was an old report done in June, 2009, rather than the revised report in December 2009, after careful analysis and review were done.
Mr. Sohan has also refused to accept the fact that the East Coast of Demerara, Mahaica and Mahaicony would benefit from the additional outlet when studies by both local and international experts have all agreed that such an outlet is necessary to alleviate the adverse effects of climate change, particularly in these areas. Hydraulic modelling of the EDWC was carried out in 2004 under the Hydrology and Water Resources study for the Guyana D&I rehabilitation project and was further updated in 2005 by the Task Force for Infrastructure Recovery (TFIR), which provided analytical output from which recommendations were derived in improving the flow and discharge system. The final report of the Task Force for Infrastructure Recovery (TFIR), prepared by experts from Mott MacDonald, local engineers with input from engineers out of Holland recommended such an outlet. Also, assessment in the Guyana Floods Geotechnical and Hydraulic Assessment of the EDWC, UNDAC, in February 2005, suggested the same. In fact, this project has the potential of developing these communities even further, since there would be an improved and enhanced drainage system in place.
In addition, the recently inked US$2.7M consultancy contract under the Conservancy Adaptation Project between the Guyana Government and Mott McDonald from the United Kingdom and CEMCO Inc., will see a study and assessment on the EDWC being undertaken in a comprehensive way. In addition, studies will be undertaken which will allow  a better understanding of how the conservancy operates and what interventions are best needed to better manage flood conditions.
With regard to the EDWC board being caught off guard, this is untrue, since the EDWC board has been monitoring and evaluating recent rainfall activity and water levels in the conservancy. It is no secret that rainfall levels experienced were increasingly high, resulting in increased water levels at the conservancy and forcing the hand of the EDWC board to make such a decision. With the Hope Canal operating, the board will have another option, and flooding in Mahaica and Mahaicony areas would be alleviated, which is one of the main objectives of this major project.
Mr. Sohan has also chosen to presume that operational procedures were not followed with regard to the opening of the other EDWC relief structures, but yet again this is untrue, as water was drained through the Land of Canaan, Cunia and Kofi outlets at regular intervals as the tide allowed. Mr. Sohan has also failed to highlight the ills of climate change, which have resulted in higher levels of rainfall which have prompted the government to make drainage and irrigation a priority.
There are also incorrect statements by Mr. Sohan that suggest that “the rapid rise in water levels in the conservancy were the result of poor water management rather than the start of La Nina”, when the Ministry of Agriculture’s Hydromet Office had stated that Guyana was presently experiencing La Nina and heavy rainfall activity was expected. In fact, what was experienced were several days of heavy rainfall, resulting in the buildup of water in the conservancies countrywide. For the record, Mr. Sohan, the EDWC has an operating manual which serves as a guideline for the efficient running of this key facility. As Minister Persaud had noted at his press briefing, a significant number of personnel was manning the conservancy for breaches. However, there were no overtopping and breaches.
In conclusion, even before the rainy season began, the Ministry of Agriculture’s NDIA had been doing preparatory works in all vulnerable areas, inclusive of rehabilitating and maintaining canals, dredging outfalls and maintaining  pumps and all equipment. It is indeed reckless of Mr. Sohan to say that flood control was being managed on an emergency basis when there was a concerted work programme, which is part of its master plan to improve drainage and irrigation countrywide, laid out by the NDIA to deal with weather-related events. It is also a known fact that the drainage and irrigation systems have been improved significantly, resulting in farmers being encouraged to have larger acreages as well as the opening up of new areas.
The NDIA hopes that Mr. Sohan will accept these clarifications given since he is a regular critic of this major project. Works have commenced on the Hope Canal and will continue as the  NDIA continues to implement programmes and projects for the betterment of all Guyanese.
Yours Sincerely,
Omadatt Chandan
Corporate Secretary, NDIA