Residents of ‘B’ Field Sophia are benefiting from drainage enhancement intervention being carried out and five hundred and fifty-four rods are being cleared at a cost of $20M, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud on Tuesday inspected canal clearing being done by the Ministry’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) at ‘B’ Field Sophia.
According to GINA, Minister Persaud while interacting with residents who turned out in numbers to express gratitude for the intervention, said that it is the administration’s agenda to ensure that the city’s drainage structures remain functional.
He noted that the city council has been unable to carry out works in the area and as such, the ministry decided to intervene. Due to the topography of the land, the area is prone to flooding during intense rainfall.
Persaud indicated that drainage work in that section of the city falls under the M&CC but the government will again assist the community in having proper drainage, especially during the rainy season.
Meanwhile, in excess of $150M was also spent on the rehabilitation of two pumps at Kitty and Liliendaal.
According to the agriculture minister, the additional intervention carried out in the area will also synchronise with the ‘Grow more food campaign’. The ministry has been encouraging urban communities to grow a variety of fruits and vegetables.
Residents have from time to time been receiving agricultural supplies to aid in this regard.
“The projects cost us in excess of $20M to operate and build the canals. If the government were to award this contract it would be close to $30-35M for the amount of work that we will be doing, but because it is our equipment we are using, it would have brought down the cost,” Persaud said.
D&I works already completed in the area include the clearing of 554 rods of D/E Field canal, Cummings Park West Sideline- 241 rods, UG Drainage Canal- 241 rods, Dennis St Canal (North and South)- 493 rods, ‘C’ Field- 187 rods, Cummings Park East Sideline and Cross Canal- 423 rods and ‘C’ Field- 367 rods.
Upon the completion of works at ‘B’ Field the ministry will commence similar works at ‘A’ field, Block X, Cummings Park Middlewalk (right and left) and the cross canal from Turkeyen to Ogle.
Additional requests were also made for three 30” HDPE tubes to aid in drainage of sections of ‘B’, ‘C’ and ‘D’ Field Sophia, GINA said.
