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THE Andrews Sluice on Essequibo Coast, which was silted up with tons of sand, mud and rotten wood for more than two years is operational, again, after a joint effort to desilt its channel, by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) and the Regional Administration of Region 2. (Pomeroon/Supenaam). Minister within the Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Alli Baskh was informed of the resumed operations at a meeting with rangers and overseers, in the Regional Boardroom at Anna Regina on Thursday.
He was told of the Wednesday resumption after the massive desilting exercise was completed.
Regional Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Vishnu Samaroo, who has responsibility for the Drainage and Irrigation Department, said the sluice channel became blocked as a result of constant accretion in the area.
He said several attempts were made, previously, to clear the waterway but the tide in the Atlantic Ocean continually washed up large mud banks, sand and rotten tree limbs that constantly cause the blockage.
Samaroo said after the accumulation got worse, then came the problem of erosion which resulted in large clumps of bushes on the mud banks of the foreshore disappearing in the ocean.
Quickly mobilised
He said the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NDIA, Mr. Lionel Wordsworth, while on a recent inspection along the Coast, visited the Andrews Sluice and together with the Regional Administration, quickly mobilised a pontoon and two excavators to begin desilting the channel.
Samaroo said the Administration also installed a new door on the sluice while a dragline and excavator were used to clear the canals leading to it.
With the sluice functioning, once more, rice farmers as well as residents are happy because excess rainfall water from the backlands will be drained into the Atlantic Ocean faster.
Fishermen are also glad as their boats can resume mooring in the sluice channel to discharge their catch.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the sluice channel at Devonshire Castle, on Essequibo Coast, as well, is blocked again with a high build-up of sling mud. It had only recently been desilted before the mud banks returned.
He was told of the Wednesday resumption after the massive desilting exercise was completed.
Regional Vice-Chairman, Mrs. Vishnu Samaroo, who has responsibility for the Drainage and Irrigation Department, said the sluice channel became blocked as a result of constant accretion in the area.
He said several attempts were made, previously, to clear the waterway but the tide in the Atlantic Ocean continually washed up large mud banks, sand and rotten tree limbs that constantly cause the blockage.
Samaroo said after the accumulation got worse, then came the problem of erosion which resulted in large clumps of bushes on the mud banks of the foreshore disappearing in the ocean.
Quickly mobilised
He said the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the NDIA, Mr. Lionel Wordsworth, while on a recent inspection along the Coast, visited the Andrews Sluice and together with the Regional Administration, quickly mobilised a pontoon and two excavators to begin desilting the channel.
Samaroo said the Administration also installed a new door on the sluice while a dragline and excavator were used to clear the canals leading to it.
With the sluice functioning, once more, rice farmers as well as residents are happy because excess rainfall water from the backlands will be drained into the Atlantic Ocean faster.
Fishermen are also glad as their boats can resume mooring in the sluice channel to discharge their catch.
Meanwhile, it is reported that the sluice channel at Devonshire Castle, on Essequibo Coast, as well, is blocked again with a high build-up of sling mud. It had only recently been desilted before the mud banks returned.
