NDIA urges – desist from activities that may affect D&I system

Georgetown, GINA, December 13, 2007.

Citizens are being urged to desist from engaging in activities such as the construction of illegal revetment that can result in blockage of waterways and hinder the effective functioning of the drainage and irrigation system, particularly during the rainy season.
            Acting Chief Executive Officer of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth noted that efforts are being made by the authorities to ensure that the D&I system is ready to deal with the  rainy season and urged that residents play their role in the process.
            Reference was made to a recent situation at Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, where engineers responded to reports of accumulation of water in the residential area and found that it was caused by the construction of an illegal revetment.
Such action which may include blockages of drains and culverts will have serious impact on the effectiveness of the drainage and irrigation system particularly during the current rainy season, Wordsworth cautioned.
The various Regional Democratic Council (RDCs) and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) are also being urged to continue their monitoring and alertness to ensure that incidents such as these are identified and immediately addressed to avoid further complications as it relates to drainage.
At present, strict monitoring is being undertaken by the NDIA and its various stakeholders to ensure that the D&I system is working well through which several activities are underway.
NDIA’s excavators have been strategically deployed across the country to carry out works which may be necessary at this time while mobile drainage pumps have been dispatched to vulnerable locations.
            A communication system was put in place along with several hotlines to ensure an integrated network for continuous monitoring of all areas. This is to ensure that situations are identified and addressed in a timely manner.
            Crucial works have been carried out and some are still ongoing in a several areas in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five, Six and Ten. These include servicing of pumps, excavation of outfall channels and clearing of main drainage canals and other works to ensure that the D&I system is ready to deal with the rains.
Additionally, attention is being given to the conservancies through which earthen works are ongoing to strengthen a section of the Boerasirie embankment at Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo.
            Approximately $660M has been spent to carry out preparatory works in the various regions in light of the current rainy season. These works started shortly after the May/June rainy season and include activities such as clearing of canals and drains, maintenance of various structures and servicing of pumps.
            These resources are in addition to the annual capital programme through which approximately $1B is spent annually to strengthen the D&I system through which various major projects are ongoing. These include construction of scour protection at the Kofi outlet, East Bank Demerara, and an intake structure at Enmore, along the Conservancy Dam.     
            Government has made significant investments in D&I improvement to help the country deal with the effects of climate change, since it has been observed that Guyana is now experiencing shorter intense periods of rainfall. This puts pressure on the D&I system since it was designed tp take off approximately 1.5 inches of rainfall within 24 hours.

 

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