The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is clearing the outfall channel to ensure the sluice at Bee Hive, East Coast Demerara is working, even as residents brace for flooding given the high levels of water recorded following heavy rainfall this week.
The community and neighbouring Ann’s Grove, Dochfour and Clonbrook and other nearby low-lying areas are susceptible to flooding during heavy and prolonged rainfall periods.
According to a release from the Agriculture Ministry yesterday, the NDIA would continue to support farmers and residents countrywide in the area of drainage and irrigation.
It noted that although the water levels at Bee Hive were high, no flooding existed yesterday. It further stated that pontoons mounted with excavators were being mounted at the Bee Hive area yesterday to clear the outfall channel, in order to ensure that the sluice there was functioning.
The agency noted that the activity will take two days at least and in the interim the pumps in the area will be operational.
When this newspaper visited the area yesterday, the water levels had receded at Bee Hive and the neighbouring communities while a drainage pump at the Greenfield seashore was pumping water out of the area.
A new two-door drainage structure is being constructed at the Greenfield foreshore, close to the older facility.
The pump was operating on a 24-hour basis, an operator of the facility noted when this newspaper visited the foreshore yesterday, and according to him, providing that there is no heavy prolonged rainfall in the coming two days, the water accumulated as a result of heavy rainfall on Thursday, should recede by lunchtime today.
The area is prone to flooding and residents noted that within the past two weeks, there has been an increase in the water levels.
They noted that while the rainfall has contributed to the increased water levels, water which accumulated in the backlands was also being drained out.
Several yards at Bee Hive were filled with thick slush following prolonged periods of rainfall earlier this week.
A Dochfour resident, meanwhile, told this newspaper that since last weekend, he was praying that there would not have been heavy rainfall in the area, since his yard and those of his neighbours are prone to flooding.
The Agriculture Ministry noted yesterday that it will continue to support farmers and residents of low lying and other areas prone to flooding and urged the local government bodies to be vigilant during the rainy period.
The Agriculture Ministry can be contacted on telephone number 226-1565 in connection with pressing drainage issues, the agency stated.
