The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) has successfully implemented its work plan for 2015. This was manifested with the construction of several drainage pump stations, clearing of numerous canals and the installation of pumps countrywide.
During the Ministry of Agriculture’s year-end review press briefing recently, Minister Noel Holder reported that improving the drainage network across the country is a major part of the NDIA’s overall mandate.
Construction of drainage pump stations was completed at Windsor Forest, Canal No. 1 Polder, Paradise/Enterprise, Pine Ground, Rose Hall, Vrede-en-Vriendschap and GuySuco No. 66 Village Eversham Black Bush Polder, No. 43 Village Black Bush Polder, Bengal Black Bush Polder, Gangaram, and Lima.
Maintenance of drainage and irrigation canals was done in several areas; these include:
– 24,350 rods of drainage & irrigation canals within Wakenaam, Leguan & Cane Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs).
– 106,177 rods of drainage and irrigation channels and canals within Community Development Councils areas such as Greenfield, Hope, Anns Grove, Two Friends, Bellfield, Nabaclis, Golden Grove, Haslington, Triumph, Friendship, Kuru Kuru, Mocha, Barnwell North, Bell West, Friendship, Lusignan to Vryheid’s Lust Area, Canals Polder, etc.
– 129,376 rods of drainage and irrigation channels and canals within Water Users Associations’ areas such as Cane Grove, Golden Grove/Victoria, Blankenburg/ Den Amstel, Vergenoegen/ Naamryck, Lot 52 – 74, Black Bush Polder, Crabwood Creek, Vreed-en-Hoop/La Jalousie.
– Repairs to sluices, culverts, revetment, and bridges were also done.
The Minister has advised that the NDIA has several major projects which will be undertaken in 2016. Among these is the completion of the Northern Relief Channel at Hope/Dochfour, East Coast Demerara.
Others are the continuation of the rehabilitation of intake structures at Ann’s Grove, Hope, Annandale and Nancy; installing relief sluices at Maduni and Sarah Johanna (Cunha); and construction of drainage structures at Upper Pomeroon, Charity, Paradise, Naamryck, Beribissibali, and West Watooka.
Revetment of drainage and irrigation structures at Leguan, Wakenaam, Hogg Island, East Bank Essequibo, Buxton/Friendship, and several villages in West Berbice among others will also be done.
Meanwhile, plans are on stream to conduct a feasibility study and for preliminary designs for the construction of water conservancy facilities in the Rupununi Savannahs. This is being done, since the Government’s vision for agriculture is making the Hinterland the new agricultural frontier.
There will also be the rehabilitation of hydraulic excavators, pontoons and pumps, excavation of outfall channels, and the purchase of high density polyethylene tubes (HDPE). Procurement of pontoons, excavators, steel sheet piles will also be done.
Additionally, emphasis will be placed on empoldering farmlands in Upper and Lower Pomeroon, Region Two.
