When one seriously considers the issue of flooding and water run-off, food production and agriculture and its irrigation in dry season, the creation of water catchments, retention dams, the maintenance of rivers and the creation of new water courses, wouldn't it be worthwhile to consider this issue to be managed by the Ministry of Agriculture rather than the Works Ministry? Is $30 million adequate to alleviate flooding, and is $500 million able to impact on a food import bill of over $4 billion?
Flooding and local food production are intertwined, and if flooding no longer affect farmers then by extension relief will also come to other sectors. We must determine which of the ministries are better able to manage floods and divert the resources, thereby eliminating the bureaucracy. The technocrats in the Government must pool together, determine and advise the politicians on the best way forward.
Ramesh Marajh
Palo Seco