Dear Editor,
Developmental works being undertaken at the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) continue to be debated through various sections of the media and were recently commented on by a senior lecturer from the Faculty of Technology, Mr Maurice Veecock in an article titled ‘EDWC’s inability to prevent flooding due to lack of maintenance’ in the Kaieteur News dated October 19.
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) finds these comments erroneous and lacking in merit since a significant amount of maintenance work has been undertaken on the EDWC. Since climate change has begun to affect countries like Guyana, the government has been investing heavily in infrastructure such as the EDWC to secure the livelihood of its people.
In 2008 it was reported in various sections of the news media that the magnitude and intensity of rainfall recorded in Guyana were comparable to levels experienced in 2005, but there was no disastrous outcome because of enhanced drainage works, primarily in the EDWC. These works were commended by the World Bank in its Rapid Assessment Report on Flood Related Damage to Coastal Guyana in January 2009, since it stated that significant progress had been made in improving the discharge capacity in populated areas. In addition, the report stated that this had been accomplished largely through the implementation of a concerted maintenance and rehabilitation programme.
Mr Veecock speaks of the failure of this infrastructure over the years, when in fact there has not been any major overtopping for the last few years. Budgetary allocations were made by the Government of Guyana to ensure that there was efficient maintenance and operation of the EDWC. The table below shows budgetary allocations from 2007 to present.
It is clear from the foregoing that much maintenance work was carried out to enhance and upkeep this key drainage and irrigation infrastructure since in excess of $809M has been spent to carry out such works from 2007 to 2009. In addition, $54M has been spent to pay maintenance workers over this period.
The EDWC is also desilted regularly to achieve maximum drainage capacity, in sharp contrast to what is being claimed by Mr Veecock. At present, a significant number of excavators and pontoons are working in the conservancy to ensure proper maintenance and operation of this facility. This has resulted in 42 miles of rehabilitated and new waterways.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s NDIA has also been carrying out a number of projects to increase the drainage capacity of the EDWC and improve the integrity of the conservancy. These works include the buttressing of embankments, the widening of channels, the rehabilitation of outlet channels and the opening of additional outlets to mitigate the effects of heavy rainfall as a direct consequence of climate change.
Some of the major works undertaken on the EDWC over the last few years are the dredging and cleaning of waterways, including those in the Kofi and Cunha channels, the leasing of maintenance equipment, the rehabilitation of the inlet and outfall channel at Land of Canaan Five-door sluice, the rehabilitation of the Kofi sluice and constructing the access road to Flagstaff. Also a newly rehabilitated Kofi relief channel was put in place as well as the construction of a CNC regulator. Additional works included the construction of an intake structure at Enmore, the installation of a new door and lifting mechanism at the Kofi sluice, the construction of scour protection at Kofi, 200 feet of revetment at Shanks, EDWC, the clearing of nine miles of Kofi waterway and the re-activation of 10.5 miles of Annandale water path and the buttressing of embankments.
The new northern relief channel at Hope/Dochfour, East Coast Demerara will also provide relief to the Mahaica, Mahaicony, Abary and East Coast Demerara communities during periods of prolonged and heavy rainfall, and would significantly boost the drainage capacity of the EDWC. In light of the foregoing, it is clear that Mr Veecock’s comments are misleading.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s NDIA has also been supported by the Conservancy Adaptation Project which is aimed at aiding Guyana to adapt to climate change and focuses on the EDWC. The US$3.8M World Bank Conservancy Adaptation Project will finance the development of the technical foundation for a master plan of future interventions within the EDWC and lowland drainage systems, as well as specific upgrading works and operational improvements aimed at enhancing the flood control capacity of the EDWC. These works are expected to improve the ability of the government to manage water levels behind the EDWC during heavy rains by improving internal flows in the EDWC. Additional upgrading of water control structures have been undertaken including the restoring of the Kofi outlet and in a limited way the reopening of the Cunha outlet into the Demerara River. Rehabilitation of the Lama sluices has also been completed.
The Ministry of Agriculture’s NDIA has taken issue with the comments of Mr Veecock since his assumptions are inaccurate. The Authority also wishes to encourage persons to make constructive criticism with regard to government investments rather than grasping at cheap publicity.
Yours faithfully,
Omadatt Chandan
Corporate Secretary, NDIA