Puran Brothers Waste Disposal Company was on Wednesday awarded a contract to construct an access road to Le Repentir dumpsite, as well as to provide covers and gas vents to this site, as attempts are being made to close it.

According to a press release from GINA, this project will see the construction of an access road  comprising three sections; 663 metres (from the end of the paved road along Broad Street to Mandela Avenue), 130 metres (Broad  Street to Evans Street) and 340 metres (Evans Street to the landfill).

The project will also facilitate the installation of clay cover materials to five acres of closed landfill known as cell #2. The installation of landfill gas vents will also be done.

The contract for this project is valued at $56 million and it is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank. The project is slated to commence on June 29 and is scheduled to last for six months.

Manager of the Disposal company Kalesh Puran told Stabreok News that this was not the first time the company had been contracted to do similar works involving the installation of gas vents and cover materials for landfill sites, but pointed out that this would be the first time that the company would be building an access road.

Meanwhile, according to Local Government Minister Kellawan Lall, the signing of the contract was a landmark occasion which signalled the start of a process for putting in place, the closure of Le Repentir dumpsite.

He said this closure was necessary so as to avoid health dangers.

Project Manager Walter Willis said it was important for this project to be completed, since there have been several fires over the past two years, which have affected residents of the surrounding areas.

He said that with the closure of cell #2, the drainage will be improved and consequently the area would become more sanitary, thus improving living conditions of the residents.