The Housing Development Corporation (HDC) is pledging swift intervention, as a sinkhole spewing sewage water has left residents of one community in San Fernando living in fear.
Residents of Cypress Ridge, Union Hall, say apart from health hazards, the speed at which the hole is widening has become a major cause for concern.
Residents said they were awakened on Wednesday to a gaping hole with apparent sewage water bubbling up to the surface.
Kurt Thomas said the incident was reported but the residents were concerned over the rate at which the depression was widening and deepening.
Thomas said, “It start to worsen, so I made a report to WASA using the App. I got an acknowledgement but it also stated someone else had reported it so I thought it was a water leak, but as the week progressed we started to see some depression in the road and the smell too, then we realised is more a sewer problem.”
Thomas said with several town houses in the area, residents fear any further erosion could be catastrophic.
Rachelle Deonarine said the health and safety hazards could not be ignored.
She said, “Our health is a major factor because it smells terrible, access to our place as well as the integrity of all the structures around here, the place is saturated, it’s filthy, look at the cars still passing, supposed a car goes down into the hole, what happens, who is going to compensate for that.”
According to Cowin Thorpe, residents pay a maintenance fee and the HDC needs to act swiftly on the matter.
“I used to see HDC coming around, driving down, but I haven’t seen them in a while now. I find as we paying maintenance, they should keep the place together,” Thorpe said.
The residents said urgent attention was needed to treat with the sinkhole, as the health and safety of scores of residents was under threat.
Commenting on the issue yesterday, the said, “Officers from our south office visited the area today, July 6, 2022. Following their investigations, the developer was asked to intervene and has since sent workers to the site. The area is currently blocked off to warn home-owners and drivers.”
The HDC has also apologised to the residents and has asked for patience and understanding.