Mahaicony sea-defence breach being addressed
The Ministry of Public Infrastructure has activated the full force of its Sea and River Defence Department to respond to severe erosion giving way to flooding in farmlands in the Mahaicony area.
On Sunday, Chief Sea and River Defence Officer Kevin Samad told the newspaper that the ministry is aware of the situation and will be addressing same with the placement of boulders, riprap structures and dam- reinforcement works. Samad confirmed previous media reports that the issue lies at earthen embankments between the Broomhall and Danzigt areas, which serve as barriers to the Bellamy Canal from the Atlantic Ocean.
With the barrier now broken in some areas, neighbouring farmlands have experienced flooding which can prove detrimental to crops. “Some flooding of rice and pasture lands (have occurred] since the Bellamy Canal is at full capacity due to heavy rainfall over last few days. The Bellamy sluice is discharging into the Mahaica River and is working at both lowtide periods within 24 hours to ensure rapid drawdown,” Samad stated. The erosion cycle in the Mahaicony area has also been attributed to a loss of large stretches of mangrove forest, which was a natural defence against the raging tide and rising sea level.
The chief sea and river defence officer informed Guyana Chronicle that works are ongoing at the Prospect and Broomhall areas to secure vulnerable stretches. Some 2,000 tons of boulders have already been delivered to vulnerable sections at the areas for placement along the sea dam. However, a situation has developed at the Danzigt area, resulting in the breaching of 125 metres of earthen dam the primary sea defence structure protected by mangrove forest along the entire Mahaicony district. As such, another 1,000 tons of boulders will be delivered on Wednesday at the breached section at Danzigt. “A contract was recently awarded for permanent riprap works in the Prospect area. However, some boulders will be diverted to Danzigt to seal the breached section,” Samad said.
(Guyana Chronicle)