Drainage and irrigation channels in and around Georgetown will undergo a series of rehabilitative works while some will be cleared as the city prepares for the May-June rains.
Minister of State, Joseph Harmon, at a post-Cabinet media briefing today, at the Ministry of the Presidency, said government has approved $150M for drainage works in priority areas, according to GINA.
“A sum of $150M was approved by Cabinet for works to the following areas: the de-silting of the Sussex Street drain, de-silting of the drain and culverts along the Railway Embankment from Sheriff Street on the west to the pump station on the east, the clearing of six culverts that connect the North Ruimveldt and South Ruimveldt drainage systems, the clearing of the siphons and attendant drains in the Plum Park Sophia area, repairs to the Meadowbank sluice and clearing of the Meadowbrook channel inlet, repairs to sluices at Agricola, Rome and Lamaha Street and clearing of the inlet channels(and) clearing of drains in the Newtown area,” Minister Harmon detailed.
The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority’s (NDIA’s) Technical team highlighted these areas as key locations for rehabilitative works. The drainage process will now be more efficiently able to allow possible flood waters to be drained from across the city in a timely manner, Minister Harmon explained.
These works are expected to commence immediately, and will be completed before the arrival of the May-June rains, GINA said.
Minister Harmon further noted that this is the first in a series of actions taken by a recently established task force which will oversee the rehabilitation of drainage systems in the capital city.
Additionally, the task force will, “execute plans in the short, medium and long-term to prevent flooding of the city in times of heavy rainfall in the future,” the Minister of State concluded.
