Massive D&I exercise planned along EBD to address flooding – Agri Minister

…says vacant house lots without proper drainage hampering efforts

The Agriculture Ministry, which has oversight of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), has installed several pumps throughout the Grove/Diamond, East Bank Demerara (EBD), area in a bid to stop flooding in several communities caused by persistent rainfall.
Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha visited several flooded areas on the EBD and oversaw installation of the drainage pumps, including one at the Peters Hall sluice, which is expected to compliment the sluice to assist with draining flooded areas.

In an interview with this publication, Mustapha explained that already their efforts at addressing flooding are bearing fruit. However, he noted that factors such as empty lots with blocked drains, have not helped matters.
“What I discovered is that there are a number of vacant lots that the drains are blocked in front of those lots. People should go and take up their lots or the Ministry of Housing should take back those lands. Because people are claiming that people received house lots for years and are not building there,” he explained.
Mustapha, who was accompanied in his visits by NDIA Chairman, Lionel Wordsworth, engineers from the NDIA and other officials, meanwhile detailed where the pumps were installed. He also committed that his Ministry will be conducting massive Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) works along the East Bank.
“We’re hoping that the problem the people were experiencing, they wouldn’t experience that anymore. Because when the sluice closes, the pump will come into action. And then at the other areas, Jimbo Bridge I installed two additional tractor pumps. In Grove I did another one there. And Diamond. So, four additional pumps between Diamond and Grove, I would have installed today (Sunday).”
“And the areas that were flooded in Diamond that I visited yesterday (Saturday), last night we did impoldering and we drained out the area. Today I went back and the residents were very satisfied because water came out their yard.

Some of them whose house had water, are now dry. And I intend to do a massive D&I work in the area’s internal drains,” Mustapha added.
The Hydrometeorological Service of the Agriculture Ministry has forecasted wetter-than-usual rainfall conditions across all regions of Guyana until January 2023, as the country experiences the secondary rainfall season. The current rainy season is expected to be wetter and longer than normal, according to the Hydrometeorological Service.
The usual secondary rainfall season will be augmented by persistent La Nina conditions during the season. Rainfall is expected to increase considerably at least until January. During the rainy season, water levels in conservancies, reservoirs, and inland rivers across Regions One to Eight and 10 are likely to increase, and a high risk of flooding is expected.
It was only recently that Prime Minister Mark Phillips urged persons in low-lying and flood-prone areas to take precautions in the coming days, as Guyana continues to experience heavy rainfall.
Director General of the Civil Defence Commission, Colonel (retired) Nazrul Hussain has added that the CDC has embarked on a public awareness campaign on its social media platforms, and is urging residents to take all necessary precautions.
Meanwhile, residents countrywide are urged to take precautions where necessary and to report any impacts to local authorities or the National Emergency Monitoring System (NEMS) on telephone numbers 600-7500 or 226-1114 at any time. (G3)