Flooding as a result of heavy rains is currently threatening several areas on the Essequibo Coast and over 1000 acres of rice lands have been affected while Lima residents are worried after a major pump in the community stopped functioning on Saturday.
The rains are continuing and residents are fearful that since the pump is not functional, a major flood will occur. Government, in a statement issued from the Office of Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo, also expressed concern at the situation and ordered Head of the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Lionel Wordsworth to the area to implement measures to alleviate the flooding.
The statement said that the Ministry of Agriculture and the NDIA are working assiduously to alleviate the flooding of rice lands on the Essequibo Coast. It said that the issue was reported to Nagamootoo on Saturday morning and he immediately alerted newly appointed Minister of Agriculture Noel Holder. Wordsworth was thereafter dispatched to the affected area and instructed that all efforts be made to bring relief to the affected rice farmers.
“Over 1000 acres of rice lands between Queenstown and Devonshire Castle have been affected by the flood waters. Water had accumulated in the backlands over the past several days and excessive rainfall overnight exacerbated the situation,” the statement said.
It added that two pontoons fitted with two excavators each were yesterday morning deployed to Windsor Castle and Capoey where they are being operated to desilt the outfall channels there. “Regrettably it has been confirmed that the previous administration did not dredge or desilt the outfall channels in the area during the dry season. The excessive silt build up along with various sluices not being operational or fully operational have compounded the problem,” the statement said.
It was revealed that of the eight sluices in the affected area, only two located at Anna Regina and La Union are working satisfactorily. Six pumps are working on a 24-hour basis in an effort to reduce the water level. Arrangements were also made for an 80 cu sec pump to be taken into the affected area by yesterday. This pump is expected to be located at Taymouth Manor.
Meantime, when Stabroek News visited the Lima pump station site, workers employed by the Samaroo Investment Inc were working to rectify the situation.
Doodnauth Samaroo, the contractor in charge explained what occurred. “We are currently driving piles to build a pump station right here. While working and because of the rainfall and the loose soil, the pump give way. We have it under control since we are now working to get it fixed. We already drive the piles here and it was the same day that we were supposed to concrete, the same day the pump gave way. You see, the old engine for the pump was there so we had to move it. Right now, the sluice is not working because it is blocked by silt so if the rain continues, only the pump will be able to help,” he said while adding that they were working to get it fixed by midday yesterday.
Samaroo added that the act was not a willful one but the pump gave way because of the rainfall and the loose soil at the Lima sea side.
Third time
In the village of Queenstown, residents expressed disgust since according to them, this is the third time for the year that they are victims of major flooding.
Cromwell Mentis, a resident of the area told Stabroek News that if there is a pump stationed at the nearby village, Capoey, even if the rain pours, flooding will be avoided.
“There is no functioning sluice at Capoey, neither is there a pump so that is the main reason Queenstown is affected to this extent. This is the third time…we getting floods for this year. Yesterday (Saturday) an excavator dig out the main trench in the village. If this was done before, at least the water would have had a free flow. Three sluice is at Capoey but none of them ain’t working so the water can’t go anywhere. Residents of Queenstown are suffering. The water is on the land for almost five days and it is not going down. People lives are at risk here. Mothers with young babies and small children have to be walking in the water. This is not healthy and I’m hoping that something can be done soon,” he said.
“There was a pump at Capoey earlier in the year but it was removed and if that pump was working, that pump could have help to take off the water from the land. All these areas are supposed to have pumps,” he added.
When Stabroek News visited the sluices at Capoey, it was observed that the entrance to each of the sluices was filled with silt so the water does not have a free flow. As a result, the water in the nearby trenches is higher than that of the silt at the entrance of the sluice at the seaside.
Regional Engineer Jafaun Permansingh in an invited comment said that a pump was expected to be deployed to the area by yesterday.
“During dry season, here cannot be desilted because there is not enough water inside to flush the channel so we hope that with this rainfall, we will have the height in water. The only bad thing is the water level will have to reach to a significant height and it might threaten the housing areas before we can get to flush it. What we will be doing here is to deploy a pump here by today with the intention that we can flush away some of the siltation here to get this channel running,” he said.
Permansingh said that areas from Queenstown to Devonshire Castle are affected and all efforts are being made to bring relief to the areas.
“The La Union, Capoey, Taymouth Manor, Devonshire Castle, Three Friends and Lima sluices are not functioning. Out of all, we are hoping to have pumps. Pumps are needed and the capacity that the pumps are working with needs to be improved. The pumps will just maintain the water level since they cannot clear all the water,” he added.
The Government statement, meantime, also said that Prime Minister Nagamootoo and Minister Holder both expressed deep concern for the welfare of the affected rice farmers and hope that the flood waters will recede appreciably as a result of the measures being taken. “They have committed that every effort will be made to continue the process of battling the flood waters so that the problem does not spread to residential areas which are currently threatened,” it added.
