Floodwaters once again invaded the homes of residents living close to an Endeavour, Leguan koker after farmers, with the permission of the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), removed the stop-log door that was recently installed in order to irrigate their farming lands.
A resident, Lalita Basdeo, explained to Stabroek News that intense heat over the past few days resulted in nearby farming lands being in need of water. She disclosed that the farmers approached the NDC and asked to be allowed to remove the stop-log door during the days scheduled for high tides so that their farms could be watered. She said that as a result of the permission being granted, the farmers removed the stop-log door on Monday, Tuesday and yesterday.
However due to the highest tide occurring yesterday, water rushed into the homes of those persons living closest to the koker.
Deoram Hemraj told Stabroek News that he lives close to koker but has not been severely affected like his neighbours. He said the floodwaters reached his vegetable plot but not the inside of his home. Like Basdeo, he told Stabroek News that it was the farmers who removed the stop-log door. He said that when he saw what was happening he immediately removed all his electrical equipment to higher ground to prevent them from being water-damaged.
He related that subsequent to the flooding he contacted Regional Engineer Seenarine Nandram who informed him that it is not his (Nandram’s) responsibility and advised him to contact the NDC instead. However, when he contacted the NDC he was told that “is not dem problem.”
Hemraj said he subsequently contacted Nandram again who instructed him to re-install the stop-log door when the water goes down. He added that he and a few residents did try to wind down the door but it didn’t go right down. However, he said, it significantly reduced the force and the flow of the onrushing waters.
Further he said that he didn’t know why the farmers removed the door yesterday since they had already done so for the past two days. He also repeatedly complained about the response they received from the NDC saying, “is them pass the order for the koker [to] open.”
However, according to Hemraj, the water had begun to slowly recede.
Meanwhile Nandram said the residents will try to re-install the stop log door once the floodwaters stop flowing.
