The Cane Grove pump station which has been rehabilitated to the tune of Gy$60 million was recommissioned on June 24 amidst praise by farmers who in the past had suffered losses due to adverse flooding.
The project, funded by government with support from the Inter-American Development Bank, was executed under the Agriculture Support Services Project.
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud speaking to farmers in Cane Grove. In the background is one of the heavy-duty drainage pumps
Prior to the rehabilitation, the pump was non-functional and could not manage the amount of water that strained the system during the La Niña floods early this year. The project is currently 92 per cent complete, and the remaining work is expected to be finished shortly, although it is past the scheduled date of completion. The delay is said to be caused by the heavy rainfall early in the year, which forced works to a halt, Civil Engineer Freddie Flatts said.
With three brand new pump units, the station will now be able to discharge 112,500 gallons of water per minute when all pumps are working simultaneously. Added to the refurbished aspects of the pump, a new embankment to prevent flooding of the station, and a heavy duty bridge have also been built.
The station, which will serve Cane Grove and the surrounding communities, is part of a drainage network that includes three other state-of-the-art pump stations at Craigmill, Victoria and Golden Grove. These projects in total cost Gy$164.4 million.
National Drainage and Irrigation Authority (NDIA) Chief Executive Officer Lionel Wordsworth said the station will allow the agency to respond more effectively to adverse weather patterns.
He noted that the lower East Coast Demerara was vulnerable to flooding, but with the network of pumps coming on stream, water can now be efficiently discharged directly into the Atlantic Ocean.
Cane Grove Neighbourhood Democratic Council Chairman Bhagwandin Ramsarran said he was happy the project is now on stream. He noted that it will be of significant help to the farming community.
The station will be monitored by the district Water Users Association. Chairman of the group, Desmond Pitt, told villagers and officials that although the pump was there, it was not used to capacity and was neglected for a period of time. This situation, he said, caused farmers to leave their farmlands during excessive flooding.
More than 700 acres of farmlands will benefit from the operation of the pump.
Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud said that this investment is a firm indication that government is cognisant of the reality of climate change. With the area expecting a bumper autumn crop, Persaud said, an efficient drainage system will be needed.
He also urged farmers to take proper care of the multi-million-dollar facility.
On arriving at the venue for the commissioning ceremony, the minister noticed a large heap of mainly weeds that was raked off the metal grille protecting the pump. He noted that farmers should not allow this to happen, as it could damage the pump and significantly reduce the amount of water discharged.
Persaud went on to say that government remains committed to making the sector competitive so that the livelihoods of farmers can become more prosperous.
Evidence of this can be seen in the Gy$15 million increase in export earnings for this year, compared to 2010, he said.
