By Sue-Ann Wayow
GOVERNMENT will be embarking on major flood mitigation measures nationwide ahead of the heavy rainfall season.
On Thursday, at a post-cabinet media briefing held at the Red House in Port of Spain, several government ministers gave details on the measures to be taken.
Minister of Works and Infrastructure Jearlean John said a technical team was convened last week comprising of the chief technical officer, representatives from the Drainage Division, the Highways Division and the Project for Upgrading Roads Efficiency (PURE)unit to deal with flood mitigation.
Attention will be paid to areas recently flooded out and the scope of works will undertake 114 projects.
Works will include: routine maintenance, clearing and cleaning of roadside drains, cleaning of culverts, unblocking channels, de-grassing, vegetation control, desilting, clearing of river mouths, structural repairs to drainage infrastructure, where necessary the raising of roads.
@azpnews.com Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen speaks about flood mitigation efforts. Video: Prior Beharry @khadijahameenbusiness @uncofficialtiktok @uncandproud @uncnationalyoutharm @official.unc0 #pressconference#flooding #ruraldevelopment #localgovernment #mediabriefing
She said when the Finance and General Purpose Committee meet on Monday, the procurement process will be mobilised very quickly “because the rainy season is upon us.”
Minister of Rural Development and Local Government Khadijah Ameen said all 14 regional corporations will be involved in mitigation exercises “to clear critical water courses, deploy heavy equipment and to upgrade the drainage infrastructure.”
On Wednesday, the Local Government Flood Mitigation & Shelter Management Exercise 2025 was launched at the Chaguanas Borough Corporation auditorium.
Ameen said the work began from Thursday and over 200 water courses will be dealt with.
Ameen identified river basins at South Oropouche, Caroni, North Oropouche, Caparo Valley, Ortoire River as key starter points.
“We have deployed excavators, backhoes, dumptrucks and specialised vehicles which are being utilised across all districts,” she said.
Her ministry was coordinating the distribution of the equipment and certain regional corporations were paired.
“We are using existing equipment and manpower in this exercise and there will be no additional cost to the government,” Ameen said.
More centralised systems were also needed and all necessary state agencies will be on board, the minister said.
Shelter management systems will also be revised.
Ameen said, “We will be revising the list of shelters. We will be selecting shelters in the most vulnerable areas and we will be equipping them. We will be standardising our operation procedures, training shelter managers, volunteer shelter managers so again, there is no cost to government to pay additional workers.”
She said items going to the shelter and the procurement of food items would be standarised to ensure efficiency.
Public education campaigns on flood mitigation were also on the agenda.
Minister of Agriculture Ravi Ratiram said several watercourses servicing agricultural areas were left abandoned by the previous administration resulted in flooding for farmers.
He said under the programme, 250 kilometres of watercourses would be cleared.
