Two major water catchment areas estimated to cost a total of US$1m will be created in Region Nine to help battle arid weather which has gripped the area in recent years.
This was disclosed in a release on Tuesday from the Ministry of the Presidency following a visit by government members to the Upper Takutu/Upper Essequibo region over the weekend.
The two catchment areas, which will hold about three million cubic metres of water each will be financed through Public-Private Partnerships.
Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman, during a break in Tuesday’s sitting of Cabinet, said that President David Granger had mandated that systems be put in place to ensure that there is long-term relief for the residents. With this remit, the release said that a team made up of representatives from Ministries and agencies visited the Region to conduct a reconnaissance and to hold meetings with regional officials and residents.
“Last year 2016, the dry spell; the El Nino was most severe in Region Nine and cattle was affected. But more than cattle, livestock and people were affected and so the President in particular has decided that this must not happen again. He has charged Cabinet Ministers to ensure that there is potable water for use by households as well as for the livestock and sustenance of life.
We spent the weekend in Region Nine looking at two things. One was the idea of creating catchment areas where water would be held by ‘damming’ some areas and holding millions of cubic metres of water so that when the dry weather conditions come, we will not find ourselves without water for cooking, sustaining lives and for livestock,” Trotman said, according to the release.
The team also looked at the possibility of establishing ponds in the area to create opportunities for aquaculture year round for either commercial harvest or household use.
“The first catchment area, which will be about three million cubic metres of water, will be in the Nappi Village area and that will be done by April 1. So things are happening at a very fast rate. We are looking at two large catchment areas and then the Ministry of Agriculture will do a few smaller ones maybe about five. The total investment for those two will be about a US$1M. We have met with the Region. We have met with the Village Councils, we have also been engaging mining and other companies, Conservation International and others that have an interest in sustainability in Rupununi,” Trotman added.
He said that the Government is looking at areas such as Parishara, Nappi and other surrounding villages, before heading to South Rupununi.
“The President’s commitment to himself and to the people of Region Nine [that the drought] will not happen again, is being realised”, Trotman asserted.
Colonel Chabilall Ramsarup, Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) said that the Commission is looking at water harvesting to ensure that the valuable resource is managed during the wet season so that it can also be available during the dry period.
One of the catchment areas of about three million cubic metres of water can provide for the needs of residents for up to a year, he said.
In addition, the Government of Brazil has committed to ensuring that nine wells are dug particularly in the South Rupununi area, within the first half of this year. The Brazilian Military will dig the nine wells, with funding from the Brazilian Government.
The Guyana Water Inc (GWI) had said that these Brazilian wells were to get underway in September last year. In June last year, GWI had said that the Brazilian Army was collaborating with the CDC to commence drilling of the wells in September, and would be working in the South and Deep South in the eight communities of Shea, Maruranau, Awarenau, Aishalton, Karaudaranau, Meriwau Achiwib and Parabara villages.
Meanwhile, in an invited comment, Chairman of the Region, Brian Allicock said that the residents have welcomed the move by the administration, since it will make their lives easier, once completed. “As I mentioned to Minister Trotman, this could not have come at a more opportune time. The people have welcomed these two catchment areas that the Government has planned to put in the Region at this time,” he said.
Additionally, he said that the Region, in collaboration with GWI will begin exploration in the South Pakaraimas Mountains to see what springs are present there so that the water can be channelled to the residents for usage.