Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud on Wednesday met Mahaicony and Mahaica farmers to inform them about the drainage works planned to mitigate flooding during the imminent rainy season.

According to a Government Information Agency press release, Persaud noted the vulnerability of the two areas and said the ministry had put a number of measures in place to reduce this. He said some of the works planned include spraying the creeks to remove weeds and other growth that would impede the flow of water, raising the banks of some of the canals and clearing the canals. Similar arrangements were put in place earlier in the year in time for the May/June rainy season and flooding was averted.

Persaud also said work was done on the conservancy to increase its efficiency. This includes creation of additional outlets to drain water into the Demerara River, strengthening the embankment and clearing and opening the waterways so that the flows to and from it could be better regulated. The minister also assured residents that the level of water in the conservancy was being closely monitored.

The meetings were held at the Karamat Primary School, Mahaicony and in the compound of the Biaboo Primary School, Mahaica.