…over 50,000 ECD residents to benefit

OVER 50,000 residents of low-lying areas on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD) can expect less flooding during the rainy season because of the new $365 million pump station that was commissioned at Lusignan, ECD on Friday.

With a pumping capacity of more than 95, 000 gallons per minute, the pump station is set to provide relief to residents who have been faced with severe flooding in the past. “One hopes that with the effective management of its operation, residents are likely to be protected from adverse weather conditions,” said Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Delma Nedd, during her remarks at the commissioning of the pump station.
Chairman of the La Reconnaissance/Mon Repos Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), Ayube Mohamed, said the pump station is a “welcome relief” to the community.

Considering that the heavily populated low coastal plain is six feet below sea level, pumps and other flood risk management initiatives are needed to manage floods along the coastline.
Speaking directly to that topic was Minister of Agriculture, Noel Holder. He said the ministry has been exploring many ways to improve the drainage capacity, since that is one of the important ways of dealing with floods, especially in the coastal areas.

“As such, most of our activities in low-lying areas are focused on risk reduction and disaster management, as well as adaptation and mitigation initiatives to manage floods and droughts,” said Holder.
Since there has been a direct link between flooding and climate change, it is important to assess the negative impacts that follow, the minister said, noting that extreme weather events are expected to increase and it will have direct and indirect impacts on the economy.

“A recent study highlighted that the impact of climate change in the future could result in maximum probable losses of US$300 million… therefore, we need to adapt to climate change by improving disaster risk management,” Holder said, pointing out that the ministry had already implemented its Flood Risk Management Project to handle the adverse effects.
The construction of the pump was part of the project which is particularly aimed at the reduction of flooding in the low-lying areas on the ECD.

The pump station is expected to reduce the community’s exposure to flooding, since Lusignan and surrounding communities experience flooding caused mostly by overtopping of the conservancy and heavy rainfall.
In addition to the pump station at Lusignan, the minister pointed out that US$11,890,000 line of credit was attained from the World Bank to implement priority risk reduction measures on the ECD.

Areas that will benefit from pumps and other risk reduction initiatives include Hope/Enmore, Vigilance/Lusignan and Friendship. Project Manager of the Agricultural Sector Development Unit (ASDU), Dhaneshwar James, had said that three critical pumps along the ECD at Lusignan, Buxton/Vigilance and Hope/Enmore were scheduled to be constructed.

“Additionally, we commenced rehabilitation works to the dam in February 2017 and have completed 31 per cent of that aspect of the flood-risk management project,” said James.

Once completed, the remaining two of three pump stations are expected to bring much needed flood relief and improved drainage to farmers and residents along the ECD. James said approximately 114,000 households along the East Coast of Demerara are expected to benefit from better drainage and irrigation.