The failed $62M Kumaka, North West revetment works are being redone at the cost of $35.2M, Works Minister Robeson Benn disclosed to the National Assembly yesterday afternoon.
Benn provided a written response to a question posed by APNU MP Richard Allen on the failed Region One (Barima/Waini) works which had attracted much publicity.
Among other questions, Allen asked whether the failure of the project to protect Kumaka from the encroaching Aruka River was attributable to the engineer’s plan or the contractor.
Benn’s response was that “The project’s failure was not the fault of the engineer’s plan. Non adherence to the prescribed project implementation methodology and design parameters related to anchoring and backfilling of the revetment and un-favourable site conditions were determined to be contributing factors”.
Allen did not ask whether any disciplinary action had been taken and it is unclear if the Ministry of Public Works has taken action against the errant party.
Allen also asked how much money was spent on the project and what steps have been taken to recover the money.
Benn replied that $62M was spent and cost recovery included the following:
*”Reuse of the anchor system (installed timber anchor piles and deadman walers) constructed under the previous project. These were assessed and determined to be structurally adequate for reuse. Additional anchor piles and deadman walers were installed to reinforce what was previously constructed.
*”Reuse of salvaged materials from the failed works including timber sheets, walers and steel anchor rods that were recovered in acceptable structural condition.
*”Sections of the failed revetment which have stabilized form part of a buffer system and sediment retaining structure for the toe of the new revetment”.
Benn added that the project was to be completed on December 19, 2012 and the only outstanding work as of December 6, 2012 was the backfilling of the installed revetment and the positioning of scour protection to limit erosion at the toe of the structure.
As to the question of who were the engineers responsible for the drafting of the revetment project plan, Benn said that “a designated team of engineers and technicians from the Ministry of Public Works was assigned the responsibility of planning, designing and supervising the revetment works.
The construction works were undertaken by a Force Account Unit from the Transport and Harbours Department of the Ministry which has experience in the construction of similar marine structures”.
On January 16 this year, Stabroek News had reported that the Aruka River was continuing to erode the Kumaka waterfront and that the new revetment had started to sink into the river.
On April 6th, 2012 Stabroek News had reported that work on the revetment had stalled for the second time this year and that large amounts of earth which had been packed into the area were falling into the Aruka River.
SN has also reported then that the private contractor had abandoned the project amid protests from persons in the business community there that the work being done could not effectively solve the problem.
The Kumaka waterfront has been threatened by the Aruka River for several years now.
