As part of its effort to mitigate flood conditions in Region No.5, the Ministry of Agriculture’s National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) in conjunction with the Mahaica/Mahaicony/Abary/Agricultural Development Authority (MMA/ADA) has launched an aggressive programme to bring the situation under control. It is now expected that as a result of these interventions, water will continue to recede.
Pump and Excavator at Trafalgar North
The areas currently flooded in Region No. 5 are Lovelylass, Golden Grove, Trafalgar and No. 29 Villages. The reasons for flooding are as follows:
- Recent excessive rainfall;
- inoperable pumps at Trafalgar (these were vandalised 2 years ago);
- siltation of sluice outfall channel at Trafalgar; and
- presence of much vegetation in many village channels
The MMA-ADA/NDIA response has been as follows:
- deployment of one pump to Trafalgar Sluice (currently working);
- another pump has been deployed to Bush Lot Village (currently working);
- another pump is being moved from the Canje River and is expected to commence working on afternoon of Saturday June 11, 2016 at the Trafalgar Sluice;
- four excavators have been moved to the flooded area; two are currently working at Trafalgar north, one at Trafalgar south and one at Golden Grove north;
- 2 tractor pumps are currently draining flood waters in the residential areas of Golden Grove north and Trafalgar north; and
- 2 additional tractor pumps have been deployed to drain the residential area of Trafalgar south.
In response to the above-mentioned efforts, the flood waters have receded by 2 to 3 inches in residential areas of Golden Grove north and Trafalgar north and south at 17:30 hours on June 10, 2016.
It is important to note the following:
- the MMA-ADA/NDIA have been working in conjunction with the RDC, Region No. 5 and the relevant NDC;
- the outfall channel at Trafalgar Sluice was dredged by the NDIA in early May, 2016 but was silted up after a few days of sunshine, as a result of reduced flows;
- one of the two vandalised pumps at Trafalgar is scheduled for rehabilitation by NDIA before the next rainy season; and
- The two vandalised pumps at Trafalgar have a combined capacity of 350 cusecs (over 130,000 gallons per minute); these pumps, when operated, kept the outfall channel clear.
Pump and Excavator at Golden Grove
Projection
It is projected that over the next 3 days water will continue to recede thus bringing an end to the flood by Monday, June 13, 2016. This projection assumes that there would be no significant rainfall on Saturday and Sunday.
NDIA personnel monitoring water levels in the area
