-NDIA to invoke Act to remove them

The Ministry of Housing and the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) are upping their efforts to find alternative locations for squatters encroaching on government reserves in Stanley-town and impeding drainage.

According to a Govern-ment Information Agency (GINA) press release squatters on the reserve at Stanleytown, West Bank Demerara that leads to the pump station are hampering the operation of the new $61.5M drainage pumps installed to provide drainage for Canal Number Two Polder. The pumps were bought for a programme to rehabilitate the drainage system in Canals Number One and Two Polder. GINA said despite notices being served over the past two years by several agencies, the squatters have not moved.

According to GINA farmers and residents of Canal Number Two Polder, along with the government, with support from the Inter-American Development Bank have undertaken the complete rehabilitation of the major drainage system. This project involves the rehabilitation of 120 cubic feet of water per second (cusec) hydro flow pump and the installation of a new 150 cusec, 15 feet TDH high capacity line shaft pump.

The Ministry of Agricul-ture said this major investment cannot be utilized due to squatters occupying the reserves on both sides of the channel which serves the pump station. In order for the pumps to operate efficiently the basin leading to the pump station must be excavated to increase storage capacity and to ensure adequate flow of water to the pump station. The new station has a discharge capacity of 35 per cent.

The works also include the reconstruction of a pump house; the construction of a new perimeter fence, the supply of fuel tanks; new metal pump skids; trash racks, discharge pipe and associated civil works and the desilting of the bypass channel including the pump basin. These works are expected to significantly boost drainage for the Canal Number Two area during the rainy season. Technical training is ongoing for operating staff.

Additionally, the ministry and the Region Three Administration have engaged the attention of the housing ministry’s Central Housing and Planning Authority to allocate house lots for the squatters. However, the process has been met with much reluctance from squatters. In the light of this residents and farmers are urging the relevant authorities to intervene to ensure that the reserves are cleared so that the pumps can operate at maximum capacity.

GINA said the NDIA will be invoking conditions within the NDIA Act to remove the squatters and all encumbrances to realize the operational potential of the pump station.

Meanwhile, the NDIA is appealing to farmers to co-operate and clear all drainage and irrigation (D&I) reserves as it is currently undertaking a massive overhaul of the D&I system within both canals as part of the Ministry’s Agriculture Support Services Programme.

Farmers at Sans Souci, Canal Number One Polder, were served notices to clear dams to facilitate the works which will make more agricultural lands accessible. Work estimated to cost $358M is set to be carried out in the Canals Polder include installation of three main head regulators on the Conser-vancy Dam, 12 secondary head regulators, two secondary check structures, 58 secondary culverts and drainage channels, one main outfall sluice, two primary check structures, 14 bridges, 800 miles  revetment dams and 20.85 kilometres of road.