Dear Editor,
Permit me to respond to some of the comments made by Mr. Tajpaul Gainda in his letter captioned “This canal causes flooding and needs to be dug out” (08.01.06).
I welcome the interest in drainage and irrigation and would like to reiterate that there was no major flooding along the coast, but the accumulation of water in low lying areas resulting from periods of heavy rainfall.
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) would like to state that the Cummings Lodge area including the city does not fall under the purview of the NDIA.
However, the NDIA assisted with the excavation of more than nine miles of drainage canals worth $10-million (within Sophia/ Turkeyen and Cummings Lodge area).
This also included the Downer Canal leading to the main Liliendaal drainage pumps. Additionally, the NDIA has deployed two mobile pumps working at Kitty and Liliendaal.
While the NDIA has assisted this area with critical drainage works to the primary system, it is expected that the relevant authorities undertake works in the secondary system which is outstanding as alluded to in Mr. Gainda’s letter.
Meanwhile, the NDIA will continue to engage Local Government Authorities and various farmers’ group and residents to ensure that drainage and irrigation canals function efficiently.
Yours faithfully,
Tiana Deokaran
Corporate Secretary
National Drainage & Irrigation Authority
