Some 2000 ft of slippage has been identified between the Shanks and Annandale section of the East Demerara Conservancy Dam and two contractors are currently working to remedy the situation.
Addressing the issue at yesterday's post-cabinet press briefing, Cabinet Secretary, Dr Roger Luncheon said that remedial efforts had started to ensure that the dam was prepared for the impending May/June rainy season.
He said the Drainage and Irrigation Board's (D&IB) projections were that the rehabilitation effort could be concluded in time.
However, even though they had expressed confidence in completing the tasks, the D&IB, Luncheon added, had taken additional steps to recruit contractors to ensure there was a greater margin of safety.
This, he said, was as a result of concerns expressed by the communities that stand threatened by possible breaches in the dam.
Questioned about whether areas now suffering from slippage were part of those rehabilitated, Luncheon in confirming that it was so, said the works saw remedial attention between the areas of Flagstaff to the western end of the dam.
However, he said that it had been the considered view of the technical people that the Shanks to Annandale section was the one that needed the greatest attention, thus the contractor's operations.
Stabroek News visited the dam after word of its condition was released and saw several sections of the structure in need of immediate attention.
This newspaper had also noticed a back hoe operating at one area along the dam that seemed vulnerable but it was merely retrieving soil from the rear of the dam and placing it on top of the structure.