Flood-prone Southside receives alleviation works

By Aaron Humes: The Ministry of Works, with funding from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), has for some time been working on a Climate Vulnerability Reduction Program/Flood Mitigation Infrastructure Project focused on alleviating flood-prone areas of Southside Belize City.

Mayor Bernard Wagner, speaking for the Belize City Council which is participating in the project, outlined the schedule of works and its expected benefits.

“It focuses on those areas in the City that would normally flood during rain, heavy rain and hurricanes. It deals with the Orange Street sector right here, that Orange Street [to] Cemetery Road, Dean Street, King Street – those areas are being rehabilitated with adequate drainage. The canals are being dug and lined where there is no lining yet.There will be two sluice gates at the entrance of the Haulover Creek so that when flooding occurs, in conjunction with the pumping station at Yabra that is going to be constructed, that pumping station will be automatically started and it will pump the water out of the City at a rapid pace,” he told reporters today.

The first phase involves the streets already mentioned while phase 2 involves the building of the pumping station, and while the Ministry is spearheading involvement with landowners, it is supported by City Hall.

And the lining of the canal, says Mayor Wagner, may lead to more economic opportunities subject to environmental approval: “We support any business entity that gives us a doable model. And if building across some of the canals – of course, it has to meet engineering regulations – if doing that facilitates business success, and the growing of the Belize City economy and facilitating young entrepreneurs, we are all for it…”

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