Georgetown: The Ministry of Agriculture has been ‘upping the ante’ with respect to preparation for the December/January rainy season as plans are apace to have measures in place to safeguard possible impacts the season can incur.
Recently, 14 pumps have been installedby the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) at critical areas along coastal regions, so as to ensure maximum drainage capacity.
This move according to Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy is to furtherimprove the country’s Drainage and Irrigation (D&I) system.
“Our D&I system is presently prepared for different weather patterns. I say that because it is important to have effective drainage to withstand the rainy period and proper irrigation especially for rice and cash crop farmers, and looking at those areas, we are prepared,” he said.
Thus far, the NDIA has move some of its machines to several areas prone to flooding to assist in de-silting of secondary and primary canals especially in Region 5 and along the Coast.
The NDIA is currently 90 percent complete in clearing of Primary canals.
“With respect to Secondary Canals the NDIA has been mandated to assist the RDC and Water Users Associations, by having excavators deployed to have the canals de-silted and ready for the rainy season,” Minister Ramsammy said.
Minister Ramsammy remains confident that once the rainy period steps in, the NDIA will be ready.
However, challenges still exist with respect to internal drains in the city as it remains in dire need of maintenance. The internal drains are controlled by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).
“These drains remain an overwhelming responsibility for the NDIA, as it is severely neglected, despite not falling under the preview of the NDIA…we had little rain yesterday and some parts of the city have been flooded. That is because the internal drains are clogged up,” he said.
Some of the pumps in the city are non-functional and the NDIA is now in the process of working with the M&CC to ensure that the situation is remedied.
Meanwhile, an inventory has since commenced by the NDIA, to check the stock levels of fuel at all pumps stations.
“I have said to them that I will not accept the excuse of unavailability of fuel to be a reason why a pump is not working,” Ramsammy said.
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