Years of haphazard development coming home to roost

And, with fears that flooding could re-occur if heavy rainfall persists, one wonders if measures can be put in place to minimise concerns about the impact of such natural phenomena on the lives of many citizens.

Last month, Government announced the establishment of a $25 million relief fund to help families adversely affected by the effects of Bret.

And while some may argue that a price tag can never be placed on the huge losses many residents have suffered as a result of this perennial occurrence, the absence of a workable solution, it appears, remains elusive.

Some theorists suggest that flooding is a man-made phenomenon while others blame a lack of political will for the absence of a meaningful, long-term strategy to combat the problem.

Urban planner Dr James Armstrong believes the problem is multi-faceted and studies undertaken on ways to curb the problem over the years have yielded little fruit.

In a recent Sunday Newsday interview, Armstrong said the country’s existing drainage infrastructure is inadequate to accommodate the volume of flood water which has ravaged many communities after consistent rainfall.

This problem, he said, was identified in the Caroni River Basin Study of 1975/76 and the1984 National Physical Development Plan which also highlighted the floodprone areas in the country at that time.

Saying there have been other more recent studies awaiting consideration, Armstrong said if one were to do an overlay of the development that has taken place since the surveys, it would be realised that while there has been significant progress in some of the floodprone areas, much of the development was unauthorised.

“At the time, the various developments recommended restrictions in the areas where development did not as yet take place. This was not done,” he said.

Armstrong recalled the situation raised debate about the inadequacy of land for development at that time.

He said land degradation and development also contributed to the problem of flooding as there was a significant increase in the volume of water.

“Coupled with unregulated quarrying, this water drains into the flood plains where a significant amount of debris is carried along, thereby often clogging the already limited carrying capacity of the rivers.

Similarly, the volume of water run-off along the urban corridors is now in excess of the capacity of the aging infrastructure.” Armstrong, who holds a first degree in environmental design and a doctorate in developmental planning from the University of Nairobi, said the State must take a serious stance on haphazard developments including the problem of squatting. He said since it is quite unlikely that much could be done to scale back the spread of “development,” further hydrological analyses will be required to contain upstream backwater, while also instituting a regular programme of maintenance of the drainage system, including significant investments in improved infrastructure that is informed by proper technical analysis.

Asked what measures could be undertaken by the authorities in dealing comprehensively with flooding as it relates to Government housing and private developers, Armstrong observed this country has a very high level of non-compliance in dealing with development regulations in the Caribbean.

He said the Town and Country Planning Division needs to be strengthened to enforce measures for proper development.

“It is anticipated that the strengthening of the local authorities and the devolution of some planning and development control measures to that level will assist in this connection,” Armstrong said, adding there was need for an integrated development plan to address the peculiarities of the country’s physical space.

Noting than an updated spatial development strategy was required, Armstrong said it might be prudent to consider some form of land-for-shelter swaps so that the density of shelter is increased and land is preserved and used effectively.

He made it clear that no further consideration should be given to any “land for landless policy.” “Squatting must be curtailed and rolled back in some areas,” he said.

Armstrong, a former independent senator, said some related infrastructure such as roadways also impede the run-off of water.

He said water “harvesting” could also assist in slowing the incidence of flooding “but this will require careful