GUYANA’S capacity for drainage of accumulated rainwater is increasing and flooding is being gradually reduced, although it is still not at the level where it can deal effectively with unusually heavy rainfall.
Disclosing this, Agriculture Minister, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said, Monday, that in 2013, there was much rain but fewer instances of flooding.He said this was due to the comprehensive strategy for flood reduction executed by Government since the early 1990s.
He observed that, prior to Independence, this country had the capacity to drain the effects of 1.5 inches of rainfall over a 24 hours period.
However, due to the infrastructural decline, by the early 1990s, the capability was diminished.
“Pump stations were closed, sluices were closed and any amount of rainfall in excess of one inch within 24 hours had led to floods,” he said.
Ramsammy said that, with improvements the current drainage capacity is for 1.5 inches of rainfall over 24 hours.
He pointed out that Georgetown, for instance, is capable of effectively draining 1.5 inches, which is approximately 30 to 35 millimetres of rain, in a 24-hour period.
FLASH FLOODING
“But once rainfall exceeds that amount, you are going to have flash flooding,” the minister said.
He added, though, that, sometimes, even when the infrastructure is in place, the systems may not work because of the inability of the persons in charge to run and manage them.
He said the Georgetown City Council, for example, had control over seven pumps but it was highly debatable as to whether all were operable at any given point in time.
He said his ministry is now trying to increase the drainage capacity on the East Coast and other parts of the country to deal effectively with between two and 2.5 inches of rainfall over 24 hours.
“However, the truth is that, at times, we get 50 millimetres or two inches of rainfall in a six-hour period. This exceeds the capacity of the system and that means that you are going to get some flash flooding,” the minister advised.
He said his ministry will continue to work on increasing drainage capacity with respect to accumulated rainfall.
He said one goal is to increase the drainage capacity through the strategic placement of pumps, canals and sluices, to the extent where the system can effectively cope with up to 2.5 inches of rainfall over a 24- hour period.
Written By Clifford Stanley