NDIA improving city drainage

─ calls on citizens to stop littering

─ M&CC to handle smaller drains

DPI, Guyana, Tuesday, July 9, 2019

Georgetown is no longer witness to days of inundation following heavy rains. Through the efforts of various entities, floodwaters now drain faster, leaving the capital city dry.

One of those agencies, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA), remains committed to improving the drainage situation in the capital city. Chief Executive Officer of the NDIA, Fredrick Flatts, had indicated the authority intends to aid in the restoration of the Garden City by clearing and maintaining the major drains and canals around the Garden City.

Cleaning being carried out in the West Ruimveldt Area.

A minor drain being cleared out by workers.

The NDIA has since cleaned several of the central or primary drains around the city and has been maintaining it, however, it was no easy task, needing both mechanical and manual cleaning, with some drains like the Princess Street Canal having an entire washing machine dumped in it.

“Nearly all of the drains were blocked, some had a lot of vegetation, but that will not discourage us in the NDIA, we have the interest to see an improved Georgetown, we’re using all of our energies here at NDIA to see a restoration of the city, and for our part we are going to improve the drainage system.”

However, the NDIA still needs to partner with the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) to cater to the smaller secondary drains. It is these smaller drains that help in leading to flooding in the city, Flatts explained

“We all know that main street by courts would normally flood, even though the water in the church street drain may be low, that floods, and that’s a question of internal drainage. I think in Quamina Street, between Main and Carmichael, you’ll normally have some flooding there, again that’s a question of internal drainage because that is localised flooding.”

The people of Georgetown will also have a meaningful role to play. Flatts has expressed his desire to have the people of Georgetown work along with the NDIA and the M&CC and not use the drains as a receptacle for solid waste. He revealed that apart from finding a washing machine dumped in the drains, there have also been instances where mattresses, boards, bottles, bags and a host of other items, that effectively result in blockage, had to be removed from the channels. In addition to this, millions would have to be spent on repairing the pumps as small items also cause damage to the equipment.

https://www.whatscheaper.com/georgetown_guyana.php