While recent rainfall compounded by a broken tailings pond in a nearby mining area caused Mahdia to experience flash flooding over the weekend, the situation is now under control as the water has since receded Regional Chairman Bonaventure Fredricks has said.
Speaking with Stabroek News via telephone last evening, Fredricks explained that the flooding came as a result of continuous rainfall over the last few days compounded by a broken tailings pond that caused the water level in a nearby creek to rise and subsequently overflow into the community.
As a result of this, at least two families residing at Joshua’s Drive, Mahdia were severely affected by the high water level, Fredricks said and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) had distributed clean water and other supplies to the affected persons.
But even though water has since receded, Fredricks explained that the situation is being monitored and the RDC has met representatives of the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC) to discuss the broken tailings pond with a view to having the owner of the mining operation fix it as soon as possible.
Additionally, a medical team in the area, comprising a doctor, medic and personnel from the Vector Control Unit of the Ministry of Public Health, has been mobilized to educate residents on preventative measures during the occurrence of floods to avoid contracting bacteria that can lead to illnesses.
The RDC has also started looking at the preparation of two buildings in the administrative compound to be used as temporary shelters for residents who may have to be evacuated if the need arises.
More importantly, the RDC is working towards having the creek that overflowed de-silted since at the moment it is very shallow, though it does have the capacity to hold large amounts of water.
When asked why the creek was not de-silted prior to the arrival of the rainy season, Fredricks said that the regional administration lacked both the machinery and finances to carry out the work earlier.
