Dear Editor,
The Conservancy Adaptation Project (CAP) Report with respect to the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) has been completed and selectively released, but the government has considered its content confidential and despite requests it has failed to make the document public. However, I have had the opportunity to peruse a summary of the recommendations contained therein and wish to comment on them as follows:
The CAP was intended to identify key future drainage and flood control interventions and provide a master plan for pre-designed priority works to increase the drainage capacity of EDWC and prevent catastrophic flooding of the low-lying coastal areas on the East Coast of Demerara (ECD). The investment recommendations to achieve these objectives have been estimated at US$124M with the donor community expected to provide the financing. The ECD drainage intervention will require the installation of over 8 pumping stations and the separation of urban and agricultural areas as well as improvements to existing water control structures, and the refurbishing of outlets to the Demerara River to increase the relief capacity of EDWC by 35%. Channels upgrading within the conservancy to improve flows and reconstructing its dam at selected locations has been estimated at US$65M.
The CAP study also found that the government funded Hope-Dochfour Canal under construction was due to be operational by early 2014 and stated that it will significantly lower water levels in the EDWC. Unfortunately construction progress indicates that the canal is unlikely to be fully operational before the end of 2015 and there is no practical evidence to suggest (except analytic projections) that it will achieve its design objectives of rapid drawdown of water levels in the conservancy to acceptable limits.
The EDWC was originally constructed to provide irrigation for sugar cultivation along the East Bank and ECD. It was later enlarged for flood control and a potable water supply for Georgetown and irrigation of the rice growing areas at Cane Grove and Mahaica.
The CAP never considered the viability of EDWC for agricultural development particularly so since its major beneficiary – sugar cultivation and production is rapidly diminishing in this area and sugar per se will never be profitably produced again, despite hollow assurances by GuySuCo, and the government has no plans for utilizing these sugar lands for other agricultural crops requiring large water usage. In the interval sugar lands are being converted for urban and industrial use. It seems therefore EDWC should be de-commissioned or allowed to operate at a lower flood water level while still satisfying the water requirements for Georgetown, the rice growing areas and whatever is left of sugar, having regard to its economic viability of providing these services when less costly options are available. Lowering the full supply level of EDWC will greatly reduce its flood risks as its absorption capacity will be lessened and with proper maintenance of the system it could easily provide the diminishing irrigation/potable water needs. Hence the large capital outlay proposed by CAP for flood control management of the EDWC would be un- necessary and funding for flood control interventions could then be concentrated on coastal areas.
CAP has not factored in the costs for operation and maintenance of the pumps and other appurtenances it has recommended to be installed as well as that for the Hope Canal, as these costs will be substantial and are unlikely to come from donors. The track record of government providing these services at the required level is not very encouraging and donors should ensure that if they eventually provide funding for drainage interventions adequate government resources will be set aside to cater for these costs.
Yours faithfully,
Charles Sohan
