00:00This was the scene in Tunapuna on Tuesday, after about an hour of continued torrential
00:09rainfall.
00:10The Tunapuna-Piako Regional Cooperation says the source of the problem is a blockage in
00:15the drainage system.
00:17But a resolution to the problem is currently out of its hands.
00:21We've identified that there's a blocking cylinder.
00:25The Ministry of Works and Transport, Highways Division, they have the responsibility for
00:29that section and we are helping in any way possible and understand that WASA is also
00:34coming to assist.
00:35So currently we are there.
00:37Some manpower is needed along with the machinery.
00:40So we are there to give support wherever necessary.
00:42The blockage is located along the eastbound part of the highway in the vicinity of the
00:47Coca-Cola compound.
00:49But Chairman Austin says regrettably, that is not the only problem leading to increased
00:55flooding in the area.
00:57In more recent times, we've been seeing very severe flooding in this area, but it wasn't
01:01always like that.
01:02So how long has this situation been ongoing?
01:05I would say it's been on our radar in the past month.
01:10It's something that we've been cleaning.
01:12We've not just been cleaning, but we found the source.
01:15There's one person that is heavily dumping there, but also it's a community thing.
01:22So we are also dealing with the source of that.
01:26Apart from the log that's stuck there, we have a lot of debris that added to that.
01:31So we are also dealing with rectifying that problem, persons dumping indiscriminately
01:35and also the cleaning.
01:37But it's something that we are monitoring and it's just an unfortunate circumstance
01:41because we are well aware of all the other areas that usually flood and we are trying
01:47to alleviate such situations.
01:49The Chairman says little wardens have ramped up activity in the district.
01:53The corporation is also implementing more permanent measures to combat these types of
01:58activities.
01:59We have our disaster management unit.
02:02We also have our public health unit and our public health unit, we have our little wardens
02:06and they can go in and treat the situation and we will be dealing with the perpetrators
02:12accordingly.
02:13We are not taking that lightly.
02:15Also we have some camera systems that we are going to roll out, not just for the purpose
02:21of security but also for litter prevention and to treat for those dump sites.
02:26So that also will add to that.
02:29The Ministry of Works is set to begin an emergency project to clear the drain soon.
02:34Renessa Cutting, TV6 News.
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