Georgetown: Public Works Minister Robeson Benn said it is very cost effective to use geo-textile tubes to aid in the improvement of Guyana’s foreshores.
“We as a Government are focusing on reducing the cost for the installation sea defence structures. It is very expensive to install concrete walls,” the Minister stated.
The Public Works Minister explained that in addition to being cheaper, the geo-textile tubes are also installed at a much faster rate when compared to concrete walls.
“When this project was first started, the workmen took about a week to install a single tube but they now take about a day and a half, depending on the tide levels,” he further explained.
He attributed the increased expertise in the installation of the tubes to the training workers received over a period of time.
The Minister also expressed satisfaction in the results received from the installation of geo-textile tubes along the foreshore of certain sections of the Georgetown seawalls.
The Minister explained that since the deterioration of the groynes from the foreshore since the 1980’s, the geo-textile tubes have thus far proven to be one of the most effective and economically viable means of protecting Guyana’s foreshore and replacing groynes.
Post-installation surveys carried out on the geo-textile tubes along the Kingston/Kitty seawall indicated that the shoreline has improved with much wider foreshore area.
It was stated over a three month period – April to July – the Ministry of Public Works installed six tubes to form a groyne field. The project is an initiative under the 2014 Sea Defence’s Programme.
Amitab Babulal, one of the Ministry’s Sea Defence Engineers, who executed the project, was quoted as saying that “the geo-textile tubes have contributed to beach stabilisation and the retention of shell/sand/sediment drifting in the westerly direction. In recent years, the sediments have been moving towards the Demerara River channel, which would pose a challenge to marine/maritime businesses and operators.”
Further, due to the success of the beach material retention, the Ministry is identifying other vulnerable sites to replicate the exercise such as: Number 63 Beach, sites on Leguan and Devonshire Castle, Essequibo.
In addition, Minister Benn said the Ministry is also exploring the option of installing the tubes on dams with breaches to aid in protecting the livelihood of Guyana.
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