Several new pump stations by December

DPI, Guyana, Friday, July 6, 2018

In keeping with the drive to increase the drainage capacity of coastland communities, the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is about to acquire nine new drainage pumps that will be constructed and operationalised at several stations in Regions Two, Three, Four, Five and Six.

In a recent interview with the Department of Public Information (DPI) Frederick Flatts, Chief Executive Officer of the NDIA, said the new acquisitions are part of a US $4Million Government of India line of credit.

“We are currently drafting designs for a number of pump stations and at the same time seeking to procure the pumps. There will be nine fixed pumps that will be brought to Guyana and three mobile pumps. There will be two fixed pumps at Hampton Court and Devonshire Castle. One will be at Den Amstel, one at Hope and Nooten Zuil on the East Coast, one at Mora Point in the Mahaicony Creek and one at Rose Hall town.”

In addition, Flatts said the construction of the pump houses will be funded from the government’s coffers and will begin ahead of the arrival of the equipment.

“They are likely to get here by December and we are going to begin construction before because we want to build the pump stations so that as soon as the pumps arrive we can immediately have them installed,” Flatts said.

The National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) is an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture. Its main function is the maintenance of drainage and irrigation systems across the nation. Over the last 24 months, it has spearheaded the acquisition and installation of several drainage pumps across the coast in keeping with government’s drive to reduce the runoff time of water and reduce flooding on the coastland.

By: Kidackie Amsterdam