Latest update January 13th, 2025 3:09 AM
NDIA pontoon saves $100M through dredging of outfalls
An NDIA excavator being used at the Abary River mouth yesterday.
By Tusika Martin
More than $100M is being saved by using the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) pontoon to undertake the dredging of the Abary River outfall. Mechanisms are in place to acquire a second pontoon.
This is according to Minister of Agriculture, Robert Persaud, who during a visit to Abary yesterday morning, said that once the second pontoon is obtained the NDIA will have greater latitude and flexibility in carrying out more works.
Yesterday, Persaud and farmers from the area, travelled by boat to the mouth of the river to inspect and to have a firsthand look at the excavation process.
For many years, he added, the farmers have complained, and it was determined that the mouths of the Mahaica, Mahaicony and Abary Rivers required dredging.
A hydrographic survey was undertaken by the Venezuelan Government and it was determined that the dredging will cost some US$5M.
The Venezuelans, Persaud said yesterday, are yet to deliver on that commitment.
“We are still awaiting and we do hope that someday that they will deliver on that commitment,” Persaud said.
Last year, the Agriculture Minister said, a meeting was convened to determine an approach to deal with all outfalls that necessitate dredging.
“We found that contractors were charging between $30M and $40M to dredge outfalls and that was putting tremendous strain on our budget. We developed a plan to get this dredging equipment, which itself cost about the same amount. In fact it has done so much other work that it has paid back for itself.”
According to Persaud, the focus initially was to dredge the outfall channels at the critical points along the East Coast Demerara.
“What we have done now for this rainy season, is extend dredging to the West Coast…When we were here in the December/January floods, I committed to the farmers that we will have to make some sacrifices and adjustments and ensure that they receive some amount of dredging and some amount of relief.”
The excavator and pontoon have been at the Abary River mouth for the past five days and will continue works for the next 10 days.
“The Venezuelans had suggested that the distance should be about three-quarters of a mile from the mouth of the river, so we are using some of the general specs (specifications) as was stated by the Venezuelan engineers.”
The Minister added that for too long farmers in the MMA areas have been vulnerable.
“I think it is upon us to take steps necessary to reduce and minimize the effects of flooding. We will not be able to eliminate it, but certainly farmers will see that we are trying our best, especially in the context of climate change.”
He noted that perhaps such types of intervention may not have been required had it not been the hastening effects of climate change on the country’s drainage system.
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