Plan for Coomacka’s flood woes closer
Government yesterday deployed a team of engineers and other experts from various agencies to Coomacka Village, Upper Demerara-Berbice (Region Ten), to explore several short, medium and long-term solutions to flooding and siltation which has wrought havoc in the area.
A release from the Ministry of the Presidency said that the plans being explored include the construction of a new main access bridge and the desilting of the Demerara River. These solutions, the release said, are aimed at tackling the impassable roads and frequent flooding during the rainy season due to intense erosion in the farming community.
During the visit to the community, Director General of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), Colonel (Ret’d) Chabilall Ramsarup, who headed the team, said he had been mandated by Minister of State, Joseph Harmon to draft a plan of action.
“Last Friday we met and we spoke about stopping the flow of sand going into the Demerara River and the homes of the residents in Coomacka. Next we have to look at the bridge because it is in a problematic state right now and then we have to look at the community itself. We have to look at the short-term, medium and long-term plans… The May-June rain has started and we have to see how we can stop what is happening,” Colonel Ramsarup said.
Flowing from the site visit, the engineers and other experts have decided that a new drainage system needs to be developed to halt the erosion and shifting of sand into the Demerara River. A new bridge will also have to be constructed for the village and sections of the village, where mining once took place, have to be reforested.