Mahaica, Mahaicony urged to be on alert for any discharge
The level of the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) has been rising to a threatening level and it may necessitate a release of water, the Conservancy Board has said.
Consequently, residents in the upper reaches of the Mahaica/Mahaicony Creek are advised to be alert and to take the necessary precautions should the EDWC Board decide to release the water to prevent any pressure on the conservancy dam.
The EDWC was a major factor in the 2005 Great Flood. There was thought to have been heavy overtopping which caused the chronic flooding on the lower East Coast. When the water reached dangerous levels in the conservancy it was released into the Mahaica Creek prompting weeks of flooding in the Mahaica and Mahaicony Creeks.
Water was released again the following year because of heavy rains and the two creeks were flooded again.
The EDWC and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) yesterday said that there has been no breach or overtopping of the dam and monitoring had been increased.
Meanwhile, heavy rainfall continues to affect Guyana’s coastal regions resulting in flooding in several low-lying areas and high levels in canals, particularly in the upper reaches of the Mahaica and Mahaicony Creeks, in Region 5.
According to information from the Hydrometeorological Service rainfall monitor station located at Wash Clothes in Region Five, approximately five inches of rainfall were recorded during an eight-hour period yesterday. Over the past 36 hours some areas recorded more than 3-8 inches of rainfall which has resulted in the flooding of some areas.
According to a release from the Agriculture Ministry, Robert Persaud and a team of technical officers and engineers visited East and West Berbice to assess the response by the various Regional and Neighbourhood Democratic Councils and farmers. The main areas of concern are Manchester, Nigg, Lancaster, Whim, Rose Hall, Liverpool and Canje. (See other story on page 14.)
During the visit, Minister Persaud instructed the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) to deploy seven pieces of mechanical drainage equipment to strategic locations to drain affected areas. In addition, the government’s excavators are currently undertaking critical works to reduce accumulated water and sealing of breaches made by farmers at Lancaster/Liverpool.
He also instructed that the government’s excavator be deployed to raise the embankment of the dams surrounding the areas of Blairmont, Belladrum, Bath, Zorg en Hoop and Mahaicony. These areas in the past have been affected by overtopping of the dams. According to the release, these dams were reportedly sold to private contractors by various NDCs.
The NDIA continues to work with all stakeholders and has implemented several interventions to minimize the effects of flooding. These include:
· Deployment of a mechanical drainage machine to Montrose
· Deployment of a mechanical drainage machine to Strathspey
· Rehabilitation of the embankment within Dochfour Housing Scheme
· Continue the dredging of the Hope Outfall
· Excavation of Hope West Main Drainage Canal
· Excavation of drainage canals in Cane Ville
As the floodwaters recede, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Crop and Livestock Department will continue to have a presence in affected areas and will provide veterinary services and other assistance to affected communities across the various regions. A team will be deployed to the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary creeks to provide veterinary and other assistance to farmers tomorrow, December 27, 2008.
Farmers requesting technical and veterinary assistance are asked to contact the officers assigned along the East Coast; Dr. T. Meghoo (622-8264) and Dr. O. Dutson (651-9873).
Meanwhile in Region Two, floodwaters in the Pomeroon/Supenaam areas are receding with the operation of a pump at Charity. Meantime, work is being done to ensure that the Perth Outfall is kept clear of silt.
The EDWC has outlived its design life. I had the opportunity to fly at a very low level over the dam in 2007 and was very amazed at the dimensions on the dam. It was dry weather yet the difference in height between the top of the dam and the water level was less than 30 cm. The width of the dam itself was minimal in many places (not wide enougt to drive a vehicle on it).
What is also noticeable is that a trench was dug very close on the south side of the dam, reducing the dam’s stability. In places pegasse (organic material) was used to top up the dam instead of clay making the dam useless.
After the 2005 floods there were talks of construction a new dam. I suggest that a new dam should be constructed to the east of the current dam. This will make working on the soil much easier and the current dam would stil be in place and act as a line of defence during construction enabling work to continue during the wet season and reducing the cost (no need to build coffer dams).
Take what precautions? Buy a boat? The government response to this widely anticipated disaster has been dismal. Now areas not ever under water are suffering also from the neglect of the PPP controlled local government authorities on the Corentyne!
Last year I was so sorry for what Guyana was going through. Seems those in control have not learnt from their past lackadaisical ways.
This time around, I’m indifferent. It’s just another burden on peoples mentality, so that they can turn their minds from evil and corruption.
Every single rainy season the people are faced with constant flooding.
The pictures shown so far show only the poor people suffering.
It is clear that Pradoville is dry and clean.
Goes to show how much compassion is lacking from this regime.
The poor will suffer always.
WHAT ABOUT THE FLOOD OF PIRACY THAT PLAGUES THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MUSIC INDUSTRY IN gUYANA. IF EDDY GRANT HAD NOT MIGRATED HE WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST ANOTHER POOR SUFFERER.
STONEBLISS: Go drink up some of that excess water and stick to the topic :)
NEways….what music cd do you have. Tell me, I’ll buy it.
Cheers.
PPP cannot take care of anything the don’t care the shut up everyone who criticize them and yet there record shows what a mess the are this problem should have been fixed since the 2005 flooding.If the government cannot take care of there own supporters by protecting them or making sure there crops are not destroyed how can the take care of other citizens who have not voted for them .The ppp supporters are suffering the most through this flooding this is how this government cares.We need leaders that care for everyone.
Looking for a good reason to blame for the floods ? Global Warming. However, 70 percent of the drainage canals; the Sidelines and Midwalks that run from the East Demerara Water Conservancy to the Atlantic Ocean are blocked up. Some canals in Georgetown have plastic bottles and so on, but most of the drainage system along the coastal areas is not working – and the reason is not Global Warming or plastic bottles. The network of Sidelines and Midwalks that used to take a lot of pressure off the Conservancy is not functioning. Years ago farmers could have paddled a canoe from the villages all the way to the Conservancy, but nowadays most of these trenches are blocked up. People have to simply abandon a lot of their farms.
What is going to happen next is they are going to open the sluices at the upper Mahaica River, dump all the water into the Mahaica River and flood out the place.
RL
The “Chorus Line” anyone! The same ole, same ole stories all over again – just where are the Guyanese (or foreign BRAINIACS) to come up with feasible strategies for the abundance of fresh water from the EDWC???
What nonsense is this; re: “According to the release, these dams were reportedly sold to private contractors by various NDCs.”??? Shouldn’t “dams” in Guyana be public thoroughfare – always!
How much more can this nation take?? Why wasn’t the level of the EDWC kept manageable? Did the Conservancy Board have to wait until a critical stage is reached in order to open the ‘flood gates’? This is what preparedness is about? This ‘wait and see’ attitude will be the death of GY. At the start of the rainy season why didn’t the CB and NDIA work with Hydromet to predict rainfall and drain the ECWC accordingly??? Now the upper reaches of the creeks which are already flooded will have additional deluge from the savannahs. WAY TO GO GUYANA!!! FREDDIE IS RIGHT, THIS GOVERNMENT DOES NOT KNOW THE MEANING OF RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY. FOR THAT MATTER… DO GUYANESE LEADERS KNOW???
Actually, the Gov’t drained the EDWC days before the rainy season began. If they blew the Conservancy during the rainy season then Mahaica/Mahaicony Creek areas would flood faster because it’s too much water for creeks to flow. That would result in massive losses to the region… Now that the water is rising to dangerous levels, it will have to go some where; they have two options: flood these two Creek areas or wait for it to top over; it’s more like a dilemma.