NDIA to undertake critical dredging of Demerara River at Coomacka

Residents of Coomacka Village in Region Ten will soon benefit from a series of drainage works which are expected to relieve their flooding issues.

Officials from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) disclosed in a Ministry of Agriculture release that during 2019, the authority will expend $47 million to carry out a series of operations to reduce flooding in the village, a press release from the entity said. Over the years, flooding and siltation have wreaked havoc in the area.

These works will include the partial removal of sand from the Demerara River, construction of a reinforced laterite dam with overflow mechanisms to retain the migration of sand into the Demerara River and the re-vegetation of a pilot area with grass, the release said.  Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the NDIA, Dave Hicks, said that flooding of the Coomacka community and its environs has been a continuous challenge for those agencies responsible for maintaining the infrastructure and ensuring the wellbeing of the citizens of that area.