Dear Editor,
For the benefit of members of the public the NDIA would like to respond to a letter tilled “An $87 million dollars drainage pump” (KN 08.01.18).
The NDIA would like to state that two drainage pumps were purchased and installed at a total cost of $86.8M at Hope and Greenfield. This sum covers the cost of supply and installation of the two pumping units, inclusive of the power skids, hydraulic pump ends, discharge pipe works, protective enclosure for the pump units, associated civil works and one spare pump end – the submersible component of the pump.
Once again, this project was publicly advertised inviting bids and was procured in accordance with the Procurement Act of 2003. Through this process the “local engineering shops” as alluded to by the letter writer had an opportunity to submit bids for the competitive bidding process. The project was awarded to the lowest bidder.
The hydraulically driven design was chosen because a traditional pump of this capacity would normally require elaborate foundation and other civil works which would have been significantly more costly.
In addition, these 36-inch hydraulically driven drainage pumps have the capacity to discharge 560 gallons of water per second which is of a tremendously higher capacity when compared to the “rice pump” alluded to by the writer. These pumps can be easily redeployed at other locations as the need may arise.
Meanwhile, apart from the public commissioning the NDIA is willing to facilitate a guided tour of the two pump sites at Hope and Greenfield.
Yours faithfully,
Tina Deokaran
Corporate Secretary
National Drainage and Irrigation
Authority