radhica.sookraj@guardian.co.tt
Farmers from the South Oropouche Drainage basin are demanding to know why an amphibious dredger has been abandoned in the middle of a river since last November. The rusted dredger sits in the river at Penal with weeds growing around it. It was brought in to clean parts of the river which drains the South Oropouche Drainage Basin.
President of the South Oropouche Riverine Flood Action (SORFA) group Edward Moodie said major rivers in Oropouche are still covered with water hyacinths and the banks are in dire need of repairs.
“We are asking the Minister to explain why they are allowing an expensive piece of machinery which was paid for with taxpayers’ dollars to rot in this muddy river, hidden away from the public,” he said.
Moodie said SORFA will be filing legal action on behalf of residents of Woodland and environs.
“We are liaising with attorneys because our constitutional rights to the enjoyment of property have been breached. The State has a responsibility to ensure waterways are maintained. We have identified every single breach and area that needed clearing and river banks to be built and absolutely nothing was done,” he said.
Farmer Jagdish Soogrim said although new gates were installed in Tulsa Trace, saltwater intrusion is continuing. He said low water levels are affecting farmers.
“We depend on this river to water our crops and dairy farmers use this river as well. Someone needs to look into this because it seems the newly installed gates are causing salt water to seep into the river,” he said.
Contacted about the matter yesterday, Works Minister Rohan Sinanan said he was in Parliament and would comment at a later time.
