— Gov’t ramps up efforts to reduce flooding in Canal Nos. 1 and 2

RESIDENTS of Canal Numbers One and Two West Bank Demerara (WBD) are satisfied with the work being done by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to clear all channels to reduce flooding in their communities.
For over two weeks, residents have been facing the adverse effects of flooding due to excessive rainfall.

Agriculture Minister Noel Holder and a team during a visit to the areas on Sunday discovered that the water level was high despite efforts to clear all channels.
The NDIA was instructed by the minister to deploy additional excavators to swiftly clear the channels.

The visiting team included NDIA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Frederick Flatts, NDIA’s Regional Engineer Lall Piterahdaue and other government officials.
The aim of their visit was to assess flooded agricultural areas and implement immediate interventions to assist farmers in the affected communities.
During the visit, the minister and the team interacted with farmers and residents of the villages, as they sought to look at alternatives which would bring immediate relief to those affected.

The flooding, which was a result of heavy rains over the past few weeks, saw the livelihoods of farmers coming under threat.
While some were still in distress, it was a bitter-sweet moment for residents who were finally able to walk freely in their yards and traverse the streets in the community.
“Although we glad that the water pulled off, we still have lots of cleaning to do, because as you can see the water reach in the house and make a mess,” Sherryan Singh, a resident of Canal Number Two told the Guyana Chronicle on Wednesday.
In her yard was unhealthy residue washed up during the flood a few days ago.
The mother of two was still happy the water has receded and her family will be able to go about their lives as per normal.

A resident of Canal Number One, Omela Persaud, said although the canal was desilted, the flooding did not stop.
Persaud told this publication that she had no choice but to walk through the stagnant water to conduct her daily routines. As a result, she became sick. Several others got sick for the same reason.
“I don’t know if the trench clogged up or what, but I hope this water recede before school open next week… normally when this happens, it does take a month, but I hope this is not the case,” she lamented.

LOSSES
Farmers from the area were also in a distraught state, since they have lost all their crops and even livestock and will have to start afresh when the water recedes.
A young farmer, Brian (only name given) said it has been tough for him, since all his crops were damaged due to excessive flooding.

“I gotta start over now, it tough, it really tough, but I hope the water pull off before school open next week, because I need money to send my children to school and run the house,” said the concerned farmer.

Since December 25, 2017, the NDIA had tried to remedy the situation by executing additional clearing exercises which involved using two rice tractors to remove floating mass that would have accumulated in the outfall channels.
These efforts were not enough and three more excavators were deployed to carry out works in these areas.

During inspection of the drainage and irrigation structures, Minister Holder said it was evident that all D&I structures were operable.
He promised residents that additional machinery would be deployed to the areas to ensure that the water recedes quickly.

“It is not a case where the flooding is due to the inadequate drainage, but rather of high levels of rainfall. Given the fact that the areas are relatively large, it takes some amount of time to drain and with persistent rainfall, these areas flood as fast as they are drained.” the minister said.

WORKING FEVERISHLY
Excavators have been working round-the-clock, he said, to ensure all channels are cleared of mass which tend to accumulate and contribute to flooding. Apart from the additional machinery deployed, the canals are manned by four pumps which operate during the day.

“Because these areas are agricultural areas, vegetation grows quickly and there is quite a large amount of floating mass that gathers in the channel that the NDIA would clear regularly to avoid flooding. Because of the amount of mass, we do not employ manual clearing, but rather mechanical clearing. Currently, there are several excavators working in the areas to ensure the seven miles of outfall channel is cleared at all times,” Holder said.

Minister of State Joseph Harmon, along with a team from the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) and the local Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) sought to eliminate some of the distress that the residents faced last Friday by distributing “care packages”, but some residents said they have a long way to go until their lives can return to normalcy.

Although major parts of Georgetown were not affected by flooding, Minister Harmon urged citizens to take the necessary precautions and desist from littering the drains.