More relief underway for flood-hit ECD communities

The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) will be placing two additional pumps at Buxton to assist in relieving the flooded community and surrounding villages along the East Coast Demerara (ECD.)
This was revealed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), Frederick Flatts, who explained that, having recognised the urgency to bring relief to flooded communities, the NDIA has arranged for a pump to be brought from another section of the East Coast of Demerara, and another to be brought from Berbice, and both to be made operational at Buxton.
He explained that this intervention, augmented by the six pumps that are currently in place in Buxton and the one each stationed at Lusignan and Annandale, should assist in alleviating the flooding being experienced at Buxton and surrounding communities.

Heavy rainfall compounded by high tide resulted in Buxton and several East Coast Demerara communities being flooded since Thursday. A team of officials, including Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson and Agriculture Minister Noel Holder, visited flooded areas on Saturday to assess the situation and to organize relief efforts for the communities. One of the immediate interventions taken by this team has been a decision to move to Ogle one of the three pumps installed at Strathspey, to assist in bringing relief to Ogle and contiguous communities. Agriculture Minister Noel Holder disclosed on Saturday that the NDIA is spending $600 million to execute a long-term drainage solution for the catchment area between Buxton and Strathspey. He explained that the intervention covers the construction of three additional pumps at critically low points along the catchment area, and that NDIA is expecting to have some aspect of the work completed before the next rainy season.
Meanwhile, Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), retired Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup, has said the CDC is continuing to assess the areas affected in order to commence the distribution of sanitation packages promised on Saturday. (DPI/GINA)