CHANGES have been approved to the original design for seven sea defence sites being rehabilitated under Lot 2 of the 9th European Union Development (EDF) –funded project.
The defence mechanism at the sites at Melanie, Coldingen, Stratspey, Bladen Hall and Vigilance, all villages on the East Coast of Demerara, and Zeelugt and Uitvlugt on the West Coast of Demerara, will now be a rock solution and not concrete repairs as was originally planned, Mr. Geoffrey Vaughn, Chief Sea and River Defence Officer in the Works Ministry, told the Guyana Chronicle recently.
The official however pointed out that while the rock solution is not a full rip-rap design as has been used in recent years on several of the sea defences, it is quite effective as a defence protection from the onslaught of the open seas.
And with the changes, the contractor, BK International, now has a new completion deadline, February 28, 2012.
Some 33 sea-defence sites, divided as Lots 1 and 2, are being rehabilitated under the 9th EDF, and according to Vaughn, the contractor has completed 98 per cent of the works under Lot 1 and approximately 55 per cent under Lot 2.
And, with an overall 61 per cent completion, he said the contractor is working feverishly to ensure that all the works are completed as per the deadline.
Meanwhile, attention is also being focused on at least three other sea defence areas on the West Coast and West Bank Demerara, and Leguan, where works will be executed utilising funds released under the Japanese grant.