–says Minister Edghill
TORRENTIAL rainfall, which caused severe flooding at the East Montgomery Mine in Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice), led to last Thursday’s collapse of a tailings pond.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill, during a brief telephone interview on Monday, confirmed that an inspection led by a team of engineers from his ministry and representatives of Bosai Minerals Inc., which owns the mines, revealed that severe flooding was the cause of the breach.
Minister Edghill also noted that the area where the breach occurred is exhausted, and mining operations there have been dormant for several years now.
This breach left the Three Friends and Maria Elizabeth communities inundated for several hours.
In a separate interview, Bosai’s Communications Relations Officer, Scherry Domer said that extensive inspections of the mines have revealed that water levels had risen above 15 feet.
“They are water stains around the perimeter of mined-out areas that show the height to which the water rose, currently estimated at over 15 feet,” Domer said.
Domer further explained that the elevated water levels eventually caused distress to the exit dam, and saw water being released into the surrounding residential areas.
“The sudden release of over 15 feet high volume of water from the mined-out area resulted in a tsunami effect, which overwhelmed the excessive flow of water into the Three Friends Mine.”
Shortly after this had occurred, the management of the mining company was alerted about the breach, and a team of senior representatives was dispatched to the area to have a first-hand look at the situation, she added.
A team of engineers from the Ministry of Public Works also visited Bosai’s operations, and was shown the extent of the company’s property, as well as the discharge of the drainage pumps to the environment.
The team was reportedly pleased with the findings of the inspection, and determined that the company’s operations did not cause the flooding.
Meanwhile, the mining company has since vowed to assist residents in the area to rebuild damaged infrastructure.
“Bosai is committed to render all necessary assistance in the form of equipment and material to assist in remedial works within the communities, and is willing to work along with all the relevant stakeholders: The Ministry of Public Works, the Regional Democratic Council and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority,” Domer said.
Quick intervention by the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) saw the water completely receding in the affected communities.
According to the Regional Executive Officer (REO), Dwight John, a four-foot channel was dug by the NDIA to quickly drain off the floodwater from residential lands.
He stated that residents have since received relief packages from the government, and more relief assistance can be expected in the coming days.