NDIA continues flood monitoring activities

 Georgetown, GINA, June 01, 2007.

 Reports from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) for today have indicated that there has been a break in the weather pattern over the past 24 hours and no reports of additional flooding while strict monitoring activities are continuing countrywide.

            Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Ravi Naraine said close contact is being maintained with the various Regional Administrations, the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GUYSUCO) and the other local authorities to keep on top of the situation. Such monitoring activities allow for adequate response to situations that may arise during the rainy period.

             At present, the upper reaches of the Mahaica and Mahaicony Creeks are still flooded and the situation is likely to remain the same since drainage depends mainly on tidal outflows. These areas are vulnerable to flooding during heavy rainfall and there is nothing that can be done to prevent such situations from an engineering perspective, Naraine said.

            Government has since moved to relocate residents of these communities. Housing facilities have been developed at Hope, East Coast Demerara while other arrangements are being put in place to facilitate their resettlement.  

            There have been reports that the water level in the channels is still high at Canal Number One and Two Polders, West Bank Demerara but is continually receding. High waters in the channels in other regions are reportedly receding too.

            Discharge from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) is continuing into the Demerara River through the Land of Canaan five-door sluice and through outlets at Kofi and Cunia. At present, the average level in the conservancy is 56.8 gd while at Lama it is 57.8 gd, Flagstaff, 57.6 gd and Land of Canaan, 54.9 gd.

            The average level, Naraine noted, is very important, since a height of at least 57.5 gd must be attained at the end of the May/June rainy season to ensure adequate supply of water for irrigation purposes during the rest of the year.

            The CEO pointed out that the forecast of 40 percent excess rainfall was realized within a very short period of about eight to ten days and which caused flooding in several areas. However, the conservancy was able to deal with the volume of rainfall and is currently at a sustained level which is considered safe.

            There have not been any reasons to release water through the Maduni outlet, he added. On May 31, Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud led a team of media personnel on an inspection of the EDWC during which it was observed that there was no overtopping and sand bags were placed at strategic locations along the conservancy’s dam.

            A weather report from the Hydrometeorological Service of the Ministry of Agriculture for June 01, forecast cloudy conditions becoming overcast at times with intermittent rain expected over coastal to inland areas during this evening and throughout the next day. It also forecasts heavy showers and occurrences of thunderstorms in some areas at times. An increase in rainfall is forecast from June 03 to June 05 over most of the country.