AS the threat of flooding looms in the current period of spring tides and constant rainfall, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) of the Ministry of Agriculture is carrying out its mandate of maintaining drainage canals around the country.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, yesterday, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NDIA, Mr. Lionel Wordsworth, said that contracts have been awarded this year particularly for Regions 3, 4 and 6 to the Water Users Association for the cleaning and maintenance of some 375,000 rods of canals.
In addition, he said that Community Development Council (CDC) groups have also undertaken to clean and maintain another 200,000 rods of canals.
Wordsworth noted that the NDIA also conducts monthly maintenance of canals, particularly in agricultural areas and some residential areas. However, he said that it is the CDCs that normally do this type of work in residential areas.
He added that there is a community drainage and irrigation programme, which has workers in Regions 1 through 6 and 10, who work four hours each day, four days a week.
He pointed out that the NDIA is executing other critical maintenance works, such as on the outfalls of three sluices at Three Friends in Region 2, Windsor Forest in Region 3, and Greenfield in Region 4. He said that there are presently three pontoons with two excavators each working in those areas.
Moreover, contracts have been awarded for the maintenance of three main outfall channels in Berbice, and that these works are ongoing.
He also noted that when there is flooding due to overtopping of the Atlantic Ocean, or heavy rainfall, the NDIA does make interventions, as was done recently when some areas in and around Georgetown were flooded. He explained that such work is usually done in collaboration with the Ministry of Works.
Meanwhile, the Hydrometeorological Department of the Agriculture Ministry, earlier this week, issued an advisory asking persons who reside along coastal and low lying areas to be on the alert for above normal sea conditions.
Spring tides were in effect from Wednesday, May 22 and will conclude on May30, with the highest tide expected on Sunday May 26, at height 3.21 meters.
The advisory stated that the high tides, coupled with current adverse weather conditions, may not support gravity drainage; and hence flooding and water accumulation is likely to occur in flood prone and low lying areas.