Tashieka Mair, Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Residents of Treasure Beach in St. Elizabeth, who have had to deal with flooding since the passage of Hurricane Wilma, may soon get relief as work is expected to resume on a canal being built in the community.
Some activity is expected within the next two to three weeks as there are plans to build a $9 million box culvert at Mar Blue.
During a tour of the area on Friday, chief executive officer of the National Works Agency (NWA), Milton Hodelin, said his team had subjected the area, which acts as a catchment for water coming from the Santa Cruz Mountains, to a hydrological study.
Recommendations presented
"The results and recommendations were presented to National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to look at the environmental impact of what we proposed," Mr. Hodelin said.
He was in the company of Minister of Transport and Works, Mike Henry; Member of Parlia-ment for South West St. Elizabeth, Dr. Christopher Tufton, and other NWA representatives.
To date, $21 million has been spent on the project that has an estimated cost of $70 million. The project, which started in April 2006, was abandoned due to the lack of funding. The outstanding work includes paving and fencing the canal.
Mr. Hodelin added that his agency had consultation with the Water Resources Authority, which concurred that building the canal at the proposed size of 30 feet was the most economical solution to provide some relief for the residents.
He informed the residents that a structure would be placed at the top of the canal that would prevent debris from entering the canal and eventually ending up in the sea.
Resident Deta Campbell said she had been unable to move back to her home since it was flooded during Hurricane Wilma and begged the authorities to expedite the project.
"This is one of the things I have been handed down ... I should have been briefed on the magnitude of a problem like this. Obviously, based on what I have heard, this thing needs a more in-depth analysis," Minister Henry told the gathering.
