–to alleviate flooding in West Berbice

THE National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has deployed three mobile pumps, six tractor-operated pumps and two excavators to the West Coast Berbice villages of Golden Grove, Lovely Lass, Trafalgar, No. 29, Union and Lichfield, which have been experiencing flooding in their residential areas.The backlands/agricultural sections of these villages are not flooded, but their frontlands/ residential areas are flooded due to heavy rainfall. Excessive rainfall experienced in the backlands of these villages has led mainly rice farmers to discharge water from their rice lands and other farm lands into the drainage system, leading to overflow of the drainage canals and flooding in the residential areas.

Compounding the problem is the Trafalgar sluice not being operational, while the outfall channel at this village is also silted up despite being cleared prior to the rainy season.

Two of the mobile pumps are deployed at Trafalgar, while the other is stationed at Bush Lot. All these pumps are working continuously, pumping a total of 1200 gallons of water per second.

All six of the tractor-operated pumps are also operational in an effort to reduce the flood water level, while the two excavators commenced work on Tuesday afternoon.

Two other pontoon-based excavators are operating to clear the Trafalgar outfall. These pontoon excavators were deployed from the Demerara river.

NDIA also has two engineers dedicated to monitoring the situation in the area and responding accordingly.

A ministerial team led by Vice President and Minister of Public Security, Khemraj Ramjattan, and including Minister of Health Dr. George Norton and Minister Winston Felix, will visit the affected areas on Wednesday at 10:00hrs.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, under whose portfolio the NDIA falls, is currently out of the country on official assignment.

“Our government regrets the loss and inconvenience being experienced in Region 5 due to flooding. While the water levels are being reduced rapidly due to the intervention of the NDIA. Government is cognizant that for many years Region Five residents suffered due to the neglect of drainage facilities,” said Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo.