CHAIRMAN of Region 2, Mr. Parmanand Persaud has said that heavy overnight continuous rainfall has left several villages along the Essequibo Coast and rice cultivation areas with a high build-up of water.

Mr. Persaud who visited the villages early yesterday morning said the situation is not alarming.

According to the Regional Chairman, the high build-up of water in some of the villages and low areas was due mainly to several sluice channels being blocked with tons of sling mud caused by the constant accretion in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Chairman who inspected the sluice at La Union said the Administration did a lot of work to clear the silted-up channel. He said the sluice was put into operation early yesterday morning and residents/farmers between Annandale and Queenstown will get immediate relief in terms of drainage.

The Chairman said further that fields which were recently sown with rice will also receive adequate drainage.

Persaud said work is currently ongoing at the Taymouth Manor sluice while the channel of the Capoey sluice is being cleared of sling mud. He said the Three Friends sluice channel is currently experiencing problems with draught because of the accretion that is taking place in the ocean.

The Chairman said a mobile pump that is next to the sluice at Three Friends is in operation to help drain the excess rainfall water from rice fields and residential areas.
The Chairman said at Anna Regina, the pump is in operation to drain the high build-up of water from the commercial centre of the town, the market and housing schemes at Anna Regina, Henrietta and Richmond.

He said also that the sluice at Anna Regina is in operation but is only working at 20% draught because of the accretion problem.

The Chairman said the sluices at Lima and Devonshire Castle are out of operation because the channels are silted up with sling mud caused by the accretion in the Atlantic Ocean.

He said the Hampton Court and Windsor Castle sluices are in full operation along with Perth, Dartmouth and West Bury.

EXCAVATORS
Meanwhile, the pontoon with the two excavator machines on board will be sent to Devonshire Castle shortly to excavate the silted up channel.
Some farmers have welcomed the heavy rainfall that is assisting them to flood their fields so they can prepare quickly for sowing while others who have recently sowed their fields with paddy are worried that their young plants can suffer if the water is not drained off quickly from their fields and drainage canals.

The Regional Chairman has said that the administration is working round the clock to have the excess rainfall water drained off quickly so the young rice crop can be saved and residential areas kept dry.