— project 50% completed
WITH 50 per cent of works completed on the Hope Canal, the project is expected to be finished on schedule, sometime between May and June, 2013. This is according to Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority, Lionel Wordsworth, speaking last Wednesday during a visit to the area with the minister within the Agriculture Ministry, Ali Baksh.
Standing on the Crown Dam, from where he spoke with the Guyana Chronicle, Mr. Wordsworth pointed out that the works on the canal were 30% completed; works on the bridge on the highway were 11% completed; and works on the outfall channel were nine percent completed. The project has four components, he said.
The Hope Canal, being constructed to facilitate direct discharge of excess water from the East Demerara Water Conservancy, is expected to reduce overtopping of that facility, and bring major relief to residents along the Demerara coast, especially during intense rainfall.
Mr. Wordsworth explained that critical sections of the work are now beginning, such as channel digging between the Crown Dam and the conservancy, which measures about 3.3 kilometres. He pointed out that once that is finished, the canal would be linked with the recently completed other section stretching from the public road to the Crown Dam and measuring just about seven kilometres.
The area has been excavated and profiled, and materials to construct the embankments on both sides of the canal have already been stockpiled. The soil the machines have to operate on is very difficult to navigate  and the machines consequently have to operate on mats, which take some time to handle and re-handle.
In part of the works, the engineers are required to create numerous cells, and those need to be kept dry. This, Wordsworth explained, is achieved by the operation of several mobile pumps strategically placed on the site.
Wordsworth also mentioned the need for reinforcement of the embankment with geo-textile materials. According to him, those materials have already been procured and are on site.
Mr. Wordsworth said that all materials for the completion of the canal have been sourced and are on the work site, and these should play a major part in ensuring that the project is completed on schedule.
He said there were some setbacks, but the ministry and the various contractors are presently in discussion to ensure that the project meets its deadline.
During last Wednesday’s visit, the Guyana Chronicle observed 13 excavators on site, all working simultaneously to get the job done. However, workers had already left for the day. The Guyana Chronicle was informed that all the machinery on the ground were the property of the Ministry of Agriculture, and were procured as part of that ministry’s drive under former Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud to acquire its own fleet of equipment, thereby reducing dependency on contractors to carry out certain works. The ministry had commenced training of its officers in the use of several pieces of equipment in that regard, and this practice is continuing within the ministry.