Works on the sea defence at Prospect, Mahaica, Region Five, and the surrounding areas are expected to begin within two weeks, according to head of the River and Sea Defence Department of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Kevin Samad.
Region Five Chairman Vickchand Ramphal had told Stabroek News on Monday that more than 600 farmers were vulnerable after critical sea defences were washed way due to intense high tides and overtopping.
Speaking to Stabroek News yesterday morning, Samad explained that within another two weeks works should start on the critical sections of the sea defences.
He said recently Cabinet noted a contract for the construction of permanent rip rap structures along 325 metres of critical areas.
He also noted that they are currently monitoring the erosion that is taking place and added that the works will be completed in phases that would first cover the critical sections.
“We are going to formalise the contract and sign off since it was only last week that we got the no objection from Cabinet,” he noted.
Ramphal had explained that two months ago, overtopping of the sea defence at Prospect, Mahaica had resulted in heavy erosion along the sea dam.
“It caused about 300 feet of erosion that led to a break. After that had happened, some remedial works were done, temporary remedial works, by the River and Sea Defence Department and that started about six weeks ago,” he had said.
However, he noted that when the tide rose again not too long afterward, overtopping occurred at another section, which led to erosion on a smaller scale. As a result, the materials from the dam entered the area’s main drainage canal (the Bellamy canal), preventing the free flow of water through the drainage and irrigation systems.
“When there is heavy rains this can lead to serious flooding and right now there’s about 25,000 acres of rice land that depend heavily on that canal for drainage. You had farmers who were cultivating in close proximity of the canal and now all of those farmers are at risk; you have cattle farmers, cash crop farmers… It’s a matter that needs urgent attention,” Ramphal had added.
He said that while there has been no serious flooding as yet, farmers are very worried and up to Monday morning, he was contacted by a few who expressed their frustration and reluctance to plant.
“They are looking at the situation and saying that if another breach is to happen it could affect them severely. Over 600-700 farmers stand to be affected and that’s because the main canal is right next to the sea defence dam and all the land that is drained from the south comes to the north and leads into that main canal that takes it out to the Mahaica and Mahaicony River,” he had explained
Ramphal also stressed that large stretches of the sea’s natural protection of mangroves have deteriorated, which has caused the intense waves to reach the dams.
