Agri. Ministry commissions $948.9M cutter suction dredge to help maintain waterways, improve drainage

(Kaieteur News) – Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha on Friday commissioned a $948.9 million cutter suction dredge and accompanying workboat for the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority’s (NDIA) which is set to `maintain critical waterways, improve drainage and reduce flooding in agricultural and residential communities across Guyana.

According to a release from the ministry, the new equipment, which was supplied by GAICO Construction and General Services Inc., was officially handed over to the NDIA at GAICO’s wharf facility at Nismes on the West Bank of Demerara.

It was explained that the dredge is equipped with an 800-horsepower engine and 18-inch discharge pipes, and is capable of operating at depths of up to 15 metres and removing between 285 and 430 cubic metres of sediment per hour. The ministry mentioned that its addition to the NDIA’s fleet, it will allow the Authority to undertake extensive dredging and desilting works, particularly in rivers and outfall channels where accumulated sediment has restricted the movement of water.