AS the Ministry of Agriculture continues to support farmers and residents countrywide, prompt action was taken by the MOA’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to assist residents and farmers in the Windsor Forest area who had raised concerns about the buildup of water in the backlands and the residential area due to the heavy siltation of the Windsor Forest sluice outfall channel, and the non operation of the drainage pump due to a mechanical failure. As part of the NDIA’s ongoing maintenance programme, the drainage pump was repaired and is back in operation. This has increased the drainage capacity in the area and has bought the drainage situation back to normalcy.
The drainage pump at Windsor Forest drains approximately 5,000 acres of both residential and farmlands from Best Village to La Jalousie. As a result, there have been no reports of any damage to crops or property.
In addition, the NDIA has deployed its pontoon with excavators to the Windsor Forest sluice where it is undertaking dredging of the outfall channel in an effort to maximize the drainage capacity.
The MOA will continue to support its farmers countrywide and is urging all local government bodies inclusive of the Regional Democratic Councils (RDCs), Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), all agriculture producers associations and other local democratic organs to be vigilant during rainy periods as well as to provide necessary feedback to the MOA.
Residents and farmers are urged to contact the Ministry at hotline numbers 223-7844 or 226-1565 if they have pressing drainage issues that require urgent attention.