EFFORTS to increase the drainage and irrigation capacity to support agriculture and eliminate flooding in residential areas are closer to realisation, as bids are being invited for contractors to establish multi-million dollar pump stations at fixed stations in five locations along the coast.

Invitations for bids for the five projects have been advertised in the print media over the past week and the Ministry of Agriculture have advised that the tenders would be opened on Saturday November 17th in the boardroom of the National Procurement and Tender Administration Board (NPTAB).

The locations of the five pumps have been identified as Hope, East Coast Demerara and Nooten Zuil, East Coast Demerara, both in Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica), one at Devonshire Castle in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), one at Den Amstel in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) and one at Mora Point in Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice).

The five pumps are to be constructed at an average cost of $250M each and following the awards of contracts, construction is expected to begin and be completed during the course of 2019. The pumps will allow the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) to manage water in the low lying coastal areas, reduce the risks of flooding in these areas and bring relief to residents and farmers whose economic activities are usually disrupted by flooding caused by excessive rainfall and the overtopping of river and sea defences.

They will also provide irrigation to nearby farming areas during drought-like conditions which have historically resulted in significant loss of crops, cattle and property. At Hope (Region Four), the fixed pumps will replace existing mobile pumps allowing for increases in efficiency and reduction of flooding by 50 per cent. At Nooten Zuil (Region Four), a 75 per cent reduction of flooding events is expected to be realised by the installation of this fixed pump.

At Mora Point in Region Five, the new fixed pump will be used for irrigation, benefiting at least 502 rice farmers in that catchment area. More so, it is projected that here, irrigation-wise, there will be a 35 per cent reduction in losses during periods of drought.

The new Pump Station at Mora Point will replace the old pump station and the two old pumps previously installed by a colonial government over 100 years ago. The century-old pumps, one of which was said to be still working, will be “spruced up” and kept at their current location as historical artifacts and their accommodation will be made into a

drainage and irrigation (D&I) heritage site, a reliable source at the NDIA said. Funding for the pumps was acquired through a loan under the India Line of Credit. In August last, the NDIA signed a US$3,602,014 contract to have these and seven other pumps installed in coastal areas including Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) within the next twelve months.