Developmental plans for Melanie and surrounding areas on the ECD.

Residents of Melanie and other surrounding communities along the East Coast of Demerara will soon benefit from improved drainage as works have commenced to desilt several main canals in the area.

Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha met with residents to discuss the scope of the scheduled drainage works yesterday.

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo had visited the community to meet with residents to discuss some of the government’s developmental plans for both the residential and farming communities along the East Coast corridor.

During that meeting several residents raised concerns about the lack of proper drainage and sought the government’s urgent intervention to have the issue resolved.

While some farmers have occupied the reserve, Minister Mustapha explained that some access will have to be given to allow the excavator to traverse the dam in order to properly desilt the canals.

Prior to Monday’s visit, engineers from the National Drainage and Irrigation Authority visited the area to assess the communities’ drainage networks.

Residents also welcomed the health benefits that are to be derived from the project, noting that the area is infested with mosquitos.