HEAVY rainfall has caused flooding in sections of the frontlands of Black Bush Polder, more particularly in Adventure, Corentyne, East Berbice, and has affected acres of rice cultivation there.
Reports are that the situation occurred during the confluence of high tide and heavy showers two days ago. The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has since mobilised two excavators, which have been working around-the-clock to clear sedimentation in the outfall channel to allow for the free flow of water. A long-boom dragline will also be posted at the outfall channel today to aid in its dredging.
NDIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Lionel Wordsworth, told the Guyana Chronicle that the channel was recently desilted, but high tides have brought in sedimentation from the river. The NDIA has thus far been able to substantially alleviate the situation, as water is now flowing freely out of the channel and into irrigation canals.
The NDIA CEO said that, contrary to unsubstantiated reports swirling around, there has been neither breach in the outfall nor overtopping, and although farm lands in low-lying areas have been affected, residential areas are not.
Mr Wordsworth said the excavators will remain in the affected area for the next two or three days, to ensure maximum drainage and to see the excess water off farmlands.
“We are doing all we can to ensure that livelihoods of farmers are safe, and to restore normalcy to the situation,” Wordsworth told this publication, while pointing out that, though urgent steps are being made to correct the problem, the situation is not at a critical level.
Water in the rice fields when harvesting is imminent, and is not welcome news for farmers, and
Region Six Chairman, Mr David Armogan, along with the NDIA CEO, Mr Lionel Wordsworth, met with the affected farmers yesterday.
Mr Armogan told the Chronicle that the meeting was cordial and farmers accepted the officials’ explanation of the problem.
Armogan pointed out that the situation is under control and that, by today, some 15 farmers who are affected will be breathing a sigh of relief, as their lands will be cleared of the excess water.
Armogan also pointed out that the rice farmers will not suffer any noticeable losses.
During the meeting, the farmers pressed the Region Six Chairman and the NDIA CEO to look at the matter with urgency; but they nevertheless praised the officials’ efforts to get the water off their rice lands.
Rice production in Berbice has increased in recent years, moving from just above 50,000 acres three years ago to 62,000 acres today, yielding some 34 bags of paddy per acre and 2,289,718 bags of paddy in total.
By Tajeram Mohabir
