Hope Canal completion slated for December 2013
WORK at Hope Canal, on the East Coast of Demerara, is expected to be completed by December 2013, barring any delays, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said last week. Speaking in the boardroom of the Agriculture Ministry, on Regent Road, Bourda, Georgetown Street, he said engineers have already finished 10 percent of it and are proceeding in anticipation of concluding by its close date in 2013.
“Actually, the project was a two-year project and works on the actual canal is about 10 percent completed. If you go there, you will see water but it is not linked to the conservancy yet as we have to build the sluice,” he explained.
Ramsammy emphasised that, although only 10 percent of the canal has been dug, more that 10 percent of the project, itself, has been done.
“If you look at the overall project, it will be more than 10 percent. So we have to distinguish between the project and the actual canal. When a project starts, there are a lot of things that need to be done, design work and so on…all of that has been done,” he stated.
Alluding to the scope of works accomplished, so far, Ramsammy said that the designs for the sluices at both ends have been completed and preparation works are underway for the access roads.
In this regard, he announced that, by May 2013, the other structures, including the sluice on both ends, linking this canal to the (East Demerara Water) Conservancy will be completed, along with the bridge located on the highway, which would allow  water to pass under it.
Contacted yesterday, Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Mr. Lionel Wordsworth assured that the current rainy weather conditions are in no way hampering the ongoing works at the Hope Canal.
Several farmers and residents in the area have complained about experiencing minor inconvenience as a result of the ongoing works at the canal, claiming that the excavations are encroaching on their farming lands.
But Minister Ramsammy said the “compensation process” is an ongoing one.
“The compensation process is ongoing, there was some deferring where the verification was done…I have approved payment for some of these farmers, once they agree,” he said.
Ramsammy acknowledged that the farmers will have concerns now that the project is moving closer to the farm lands and he pledged that ministry officials will continue to work along with those affected and all concerned, in an effort to “make sure there is as little inconvenience and discomfort as possible.”
“We visited the area last week to see that progress has been made. I think the farmers are generally satisfied with the interim arrangements being put in place,” he stated.
The canal, when completed, is expected to help drain the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) into the Atlantic Ocean.
Currently, when the water in the conservancy reaches high levels, it is drained through the Maduni and Lama sluices, into the Mahaica and Mahaicony rivers.