GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):
GUYANA AUTHORITIES yesterday said they were planning to release water through the Maduni sluice after flood waters threaten to cause even more havoc to rice communities along the eastern section of the country.
President Bharrat Jagdeo convened a special Cabinet meeting on Monday following intense and continuous rainfall during the past 48 hours.
RELIEVE PRESSURE ON DAM
Information Liaison to the President, Robert Persaud, said Cabinet had been informed that water from the East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) would be released through the Maduni sluice to relieve the pressure on its dam following the recommendations of both local and international engineers.
Cabinet also received reports from various ministers who have been visiting the affected areas as well as the head of the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) retired Colonel Chabilall Ramsaroop.
Several ministers have been assigned to the most affected areas for the next three days to assist in the relief operations.
Heavy rains since mid-December are forcing the authorities to release water from a swollen reservoir into the Mahaica river, east of here, in a bid to save the dam overflowing and flooding the capital and other areas.
A Government Information Agency (GINA) statement called on farmers and residents in the Mahaica -Mahaicony communities to take "the necessary precautions as the Drainage and Irrigation Authority (DIA) has taken a decision to release water through the Maduni sluice".
"This unavoidable action is due to the threatening water level of the East Demerara Water Conservancy," GINA said.
DIA chief executive officer Ravi Naraine said that though the Government had done all it could within a short period of time to ensure and enhance the flow of the conservancy water into the Demerara River, releasing water through the Maduni sluice had to be taken.
