Sinanan: Drainage action plan contract to be awarded shortly

THE CONTRACT for a drainage action plan should be awarded soon, reported Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan.

He was contributing to budget debate in the House last week. He said the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) will be working with the ministry to develop a strategic drainage plan to devise solutions to mitigate flooding across Trinidad.

“Tenders for the final design of immediate measures for flood control and a drainage action plan closed on August 18, 2020. Evaluation has been undertaken and an award is expected shortly.”

He said in the region the impact of climate change on the country’s weather patterns has resulted in higher than normal levels of precipitation which poses a serious challenge to the existing drainage channels.

“As Minister of Works and Transport, the stories on the news of families who have lost everything weigh heavily upon my mind and I wish that as the incumbent I could easily provide a one-time fix to alleviate flooding across our nation. “However, the truth is that many of the solutions to this complex problem must address historical issues such as land use and unplanned settlement, illegal encroachment on river reserves, littering, antiquated drainage systems and a lack of adequate funding.”

He said the ministry’s drainage response has grown increasingly aggressive over the past few years and the work of the Drainage Division on the Caroni River has been yielding success.

“To date we have not had a recurrence of the type of flooding which occurred in the Greenvale and Oropune Housing Developments.

“Additionally, we are seeing generally faster run-off of water in other areas that are prone to flooding.”

He also spoke about the upgrade to the existing drainage pumps and gate inventory which comprises 13 projects and involves the upgrade and modernisation of various pumps and gates.

He reported this included the procurement of static pumps at various locations in flood prone areas such as Sea Lots, Debe, El Socorro, Bamboo No 1, 2 and 3, Aranguez and Penal.

He also said work will include the replacement and upgrade of hates in areas, namely the Caroni irrigation area, Kelly Village, St Augustine, El Socorro, Bamboo No. 1 and Penal along with the desilting of sumps and associated works.

For the comprehensive drainage desilting programme he said in 2020 the ministry undertook 480 desilting projects across Trinidad. “These actions increase the capacity of the rivers to move water during times of excessive rainfall.”