Minister of Agriculture, Navin Chandarpal, on Wednesday informed the National Assembly that there were three major embankment failures in the East Demerara Water Conservancy during 2000 and 2001.
In a written response to a question submitted by GAP/WPA parliamentarian, Sheila Holder, Chandarpal said the failures in 2000 were at Hope and Maduni and in 2001 at La Bonne Mere. However, he said that no determination was made about the amount of water lost as a result of these breaches.
The response indicated too that following the breach at La Bonne Mere late last year, "The Cane Grove area was affected and the government expended approximately $20 million as compensation to residents." It also indicated that the breach at Maduni did not affect any community in the vicinity but flooding caused by the breaches at Lusignan and Hope resulted in some discomfort to the affected villages and their environs. "No survey was carried out to determine the amount of losses suffered by residents."
With reference to expenditure in relation to corrective work following breaches of the dam, the response indicated that $31.4 million was expended following the breach at Maduni and $18.0 million following the one at Lusignan. The expenditure related to the breaches at Hope and Le Bonne Mere it said, "Were carried out within the existing contracts for works on the East Demerara Water Conservancy."
Chandarpal's response also indicated that the maintenance budget of the conservancy "varies annually depending on the amount of maintenance to be carried out."
It said, "The figures for 2001 and 2002 are approximately $30 million and $31 million respectively."
About the consultancy engineering and civil engineering firms engaged to do rehabilitation, maintenance and remedial works on the Conservancy since 1980, Chandarpal's response said, "No consultancy firm was engaged during this period.
The contracting firm, BK International Inc, was engaged to carry out rehabilitation on the East Demerara Water Conservancy." The government has sued BK for damages stemming from the collapse of the dam at La Bonne Mere.
Chandarpal said, too, that there was no cost to the government for the services provided by civil engineering and consulting companies for rehabilitation, maintenance and remedial works from 1980 to the present time. But the response said, "The cost of works carried out under contract on the East Demerara Water Conservancy and funded by the Inter-American Development Bank is $452.7 million."
About the tendering process for these works, the minister's reply was: "The lowest responsive bid was awarded to contracts and these awards were concurred by the Inter-American Development Bank." The minister's reply indicated too that all "duties and responsibilities are vested in the East Demerara Water Conservancy Board." Also it stated that neither the chairman nor the Drainage and Irrigation Board has "any legal responsibility in regard to the East Demerara Water Conservancy."