– approves 0M for drainage works in priority areas
Drainage and irrigation channels in and around Georgetown will undergo a series of rehabilitative works, while some will be cleared as the city prepares for the May-June rains.
At a post-Cabinet media briefing on Thursday at the Ministry of the Presidency, Minister of State, Joseph Harmon said Government has approved $150 million for drainage works in priority areas.
Flashback: Flooding in Georgetown after recent heavy rainfall
“A sum of $150 million was approved by Cabinet for works to the following areas: the de-silting of the Sussex Street drain; de-silting of the drain and culverts along the Railway Embankment from Sheriff Street on the west to the pump station on the east; the clearing of six culverts that connect the North Ruimveldt and South Ruimveldt drainage systems; the clearing of the siphons and attendant drains in the Plum Park, Sophia area; repairs to the Meadow Bank sluice and clearing of the Meadow Brook channel inlet; repairs to sluices at Agricola, Rome and Lamaha Street and clearing of the inlet channels (and) clearing of drains in the Newtown area,” Minister Harmon detailed.
The technical team from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) highlighted these areas as key locations for rehabilitative works. The drainage process would subsequently be more efficient to allow possible floodwaters to be drained from across the city in a timely manner, Minister Harmon explained.
These works are expected to commence immediately, and will be completed before the arrival of the May-June rains.
Minister Harmon further noted that this was the first of a series of actions taken by a recently-established task force which will oversee the rehabilitation of drainage systems in the capital city.
Additionally, the task force will “execute plans in the short, medium and long term to prevent flooding of the city in times of heavy rainfall in the future,” Harmon concluded.
The drainage and irrigation programme is factored into the Hydrometeorological Services’ budget of the Agriculture Ministry of approximately $603 million. The task force was established during a Cabinet meeting earlier in January. According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) report, the task force comprises representatives from the Georgetown Mayor and City Council, the Ministries of Agriculture and Public Infrastructure and the NDIA.
The work of the task force will be guided by the recommendations presented by the team of Dutch engineers, which will be used in finding effective drainage solutions for Georgetown. Last July, the Dutch Risk Reduction team presented a report for the modelling of an effective and efficient drainage system for the city of Georgetown to the Public Infrastructure Minister.
