CLOSE to $8 billion have been budgeted for the continuation of work on the country’s drainage and irrigation (D&I) systems, Finance Minister, Dr. Ashni Singh announced recently, while presenting the 2012 National Budget in Parliament. He said the allocation will see the Northern Relief Channel being advanced, along with the rehabilitation of the Cunha Canal and the design and development of a hydrological model intended to monitor the flood plain.
In addition, eight super long reach excavators and two pontoons will be acquired and several intake structures and relief sluices would be rehabilitated.
Eight pump stations will be constructed and eight fixed pumps will be procured to drain a total of 56,000 hectares of lands in Windsor Forest, Cane Grove, Paradise, Enterprise, Black Bush Polder, Skeldon, Albion and Rose Hall, while another six mobile pumps will be used for drainage interventions as the need arises, Singh said.
“Government continues to place emphasis on the improvement, upgrading and strengthening of our drainage and irrigation network and infrastructure aimed at reducing flooding, providing effective water management and  improving the livelihood of farmers and rural households,” he said.
Singh said, within this strategic policy framework, Government is developing a comprehensive hydrologic and hydraulic model of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) in order to better manage the water level.
The minister reported that, in 2011, Government expended $6.7 billion on the country’s D&I systems, which included works on the construction of the head regulator, relief sluice outfall structure, public road bridge and earthworks for the 10.3 kilometres Northern Relief Channel at Hope/Dochfour.
Further, pontoons, revetment, sluices, drainage structures, excavation of drainage canals and acquisition of special pipes to link the D&I network were completed.
Additionally, $234M was spent to procure excavators and bulldozers for the Aurora Land Development Project.