RDC to start $26.6M drainage works in flood-affected Linden

RDC to start $26.6M drainage works in flood-affected Linden

Stabroek News
May 23, 2003

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The Regional Democratic Council of Region Ten (Upper Demerara/Berbice) has been given the green light by the Drainage and Irrigation Board to commence drainage works to the tune of $26.6 million in flood-affected areas of Linden.

This was confirmed by Regional Chairman Mortimer Mingo with Minister within the Ministry of Local Government, Clinton Collymore on Tuesday when he visited the mining town and toured the flood-affected areas accompanied by regional officials in the aftermath of hours of heavy rainfall on Sunday evening.

The Minister's visit again highlighted the need for clearance of blocked creeks, particularly on the Linden side of the Demerara River and in Wismar the need for concrete drains to end erosion of the drainage system by the rains.

Head of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon made this point at his post-Cabinet media briefing at the Office of the President on Wednesday, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported.

The Drought Assessment Committee established by President Bharrat Jagdeo during the recent dry weather season is looking at the flood situation affecting some of the Regions, particularly Region Ten, GINA noted.

It said further that Cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday, assigned Ministers the responsibility of monitoring the situation in the most affected areas in Region Ten.

D&I contracts awarded
And as a result, the Ministerial Tender Board within the Ministry of Agriculture has awarded contracts for drain-age and irrigation works to continue at Rainbow City, Silver City, Green Valley, Silvertown and some other communities that were identified by the RDC after an assessment by the National Drainage and Irrigation Board (ND&IB), GINA reported.

Meantime the NDIB met residents including farmers of Region Ten and the RDC on May 13 and the areas were selected for drainage and irrigation works to be executed through awarded contracts totalling $5 million.

GINA said further that the estimated cost of the work to be done in Rainbow City is $2.4 million while the projects in Silver City, Green Valley and Silvertown are all completed.

Repairs were also completed at West Watooka, Poker Street and the Haimara and Kokatara Creeks with funding from LINMINE.

GINA also reported that a request for assistance had been received by the ND&IB at its meeting with Lindeners from One Mile, Half Mile, Canvas City and the Wismar Hill Community Development Committee to fund a project costing $2.8 million.

Meanwhile, at Rainbow City it was noted that the short-term solution to the problem was to replace several culverts with bridges since they lacked the capacity to take off the water.

According to regional officials, the RDC had budgeted previously for the construction of the bridges and a works proposal requiring $30 million had been submitted to the ND&IB.

The frequent flooding in the Rainbow City area was said to result from clogged drains, siltation and the growth of vegetation in the waterways. Since the start of the current flooding, LINMINE has been clearing the Haimara Creek to bring some relief to Rainbow City and Kara Kara residents.

Victory Valley works
And across at Wismar, work has already begun in the Victory Valley area. Residents were being paid by the RDC to dig the main drains and creek to allow the free flow of water from the hills. The situation in this area is compounded by erosion and landslides during heavy rains. A long-term solution to this situation which also affects Silvertown, First, Second and Third Alley and Poker Street is said to require terracing and re-vegetation. Additionally the five culverts along Burn-ham Drive need to be repaired or replaced by sluices.

The recent landslide which occurred in the Victory Valley area was the first since the 1960s. Some years ago the area was deemed unsuitable for housing and persons were to be relocated to the One Mile extension but this was never followed through. While some persons had moved, others reoccupied the area.

Very heavy rainfall along with overtopping of the river defences contributed to Sunday's flooding and erosion at Wismar.

The government and the opposition had agreed on a $15 million project last March, for works to be done to the Blue Berry Hill and Victory Valley roads and drains but no funds have yet been released for this project.

On Wednesday the RDC commenced community mobilisation for drainage works in the other flood prone areas in Linden.