Senior Reporter
sascha.wilson@guardian.co.ttcv
Frustrated Penal residents are calling on the authorities to investigate a blocked waterway that has created a mosquito-breeding pond near their homes.
Estimating that over 15 households are at risk, residents claimed six months ago a resident backfilled, encroached, and clogged a watercourse along Moolchan Trace, causing the water to back up and form a stagnant pond. While the area is flood-prone, they said, usually the water would run off, but that was no longer happening.
Kishan Pariman, 31, who lives with his eight-month-pregnant wife at a neighbouring street in Arjoonsingh Drive, Seemungal Trace, complained that their home had been under water for the past eight days.
He said the water had since turned black and had a pungent odour.
The expectant father is fearful that his wife will contract dengue as the area is infested with mosquitoes.
“It is unbearable now, that is why we are speaking out to get some assistance. We need something to be done,” he lamented.
Pariman said this was the second time he had faced this problem within the last six months. He pleaded with the resident to clear the waterway.
Due to the health risk and unbearable smell, the expectant father said even though the water was receding slowly, they were contemplating leaving their home until the situation improved.
Moolchan Trace resident Nalinie Sookoo said her four-year-old daughter had black marks on her skin due to mosquito bites and had to wear clothing covering her arms and legs.
“Dengue is very dangerous and the child cannot sleep, mosquitoes biting her. We can’t rest in peace,” she complained, adding that behind her home had been transformed into a pond.
“Before the place was dry—you could walk behind the house—now you can’t walk because of the water,” she lamented. Another resident, Roy Baboolal, who has lived in the community for over four decades is concerned that if the situation is not rectified, the next flooding will be terrible.
“The water comes up and goes back down very fast, but as they (back) filling now, the water start backing up. I living in a flat house and it might go inside the house.”
Guardian Media spoke with Raj Dabiedeen whom the residents claimed encroached on the watercourse. Admitting that he assisted his son in backfilling the land, he said, “The whole area is already a flood zone area so that is not really the cause of the flood, but it blocking a volume of the water from running out in the back...but normally here always have flood.knee-high water on this road.”
Dabiedeen denied that they encroached on the waterway, but admitted that the “loose dirt” from his land had blocked part of the waterway. Dabiedeen said they have been trying to clear the waterway, but he needs help. “We need a proper drain. We need some assistance from the corporation or whoever in charge to assist with a proper drain.”
He said other people were also backfilling in the area, contributing to the problem. Another resident admitted that his relative had diverted a river while developing his land years ago, but that did not contribute to the flooding. Meanwhile, Quinam/Morne Diablo councillor Sarah Sookdeo said they were doing assessments to identify the watercourse, the blockage, and the best way to rectify the situation. She added, however, that indiscriminate land development is widespread and affecting other communities. She assured that Penal Debe Regional Corporation is addressing this problem and would be implementing measures to ensure that land developers are held accountable in these situations.
Regarding the mosquitoes, Sookdeo said there had been several cases of dengue in the district but spraying had been a challenge owing to limited manpower and resources at the corporation.