A concrete box drain meant to alleviate flooding in Palmyra is now causing extensive land erosion and damages to a house belonging to Radica Kangoo. In an interview yesterday, Kangoo, of Mahabal Trace, said the box drain was never completed and ebbs out directly to the back of her home. With recent rains, Kangoo said the back portion of her home had started to crack and the land running parallel to her home had begun to break away. Showing off the erosion, Kangoo said it might be just a matter of time before her home collapsed.
She said the problems started two years ago when the Princes Town Regional Corporation built the box drain behind the house. She said funds ran out and the project was never completed. "Since then the water has started flowing in my backyard," Kangoo said. Her plum tree has started to rot at the roots because of the extensive water which flows from the hills into the gutter where Kangoo's home is located. The distraught woman said she made several complaints to the former Minister of Local Government Hazel Manning, as well as to her existing councillor, Judy Hart. Kangoo said Hart visited the house and examined the problems.
She said: "When Judy was campaigning she promised to do what she could to help, but now she is not bothering with me," Kangoo said. She said she spoke with Naparima MP Nizam Baksh but nothing was done. Kangoo, who lives with her husband, Andy, and two children, Jessie, aged five, and Jessica, aged two, said it was only a matter of time before her home was destroyed. Yesterday, Hart said she was aware of the problem. She said the house was located on Caroni lands which were meant for agricultural purposes. The councillor said she would look into the problem and make representation to have the matter rectified. Baksh said he spoke with Kangoo and was aware of the problems. He said the matter would be dealt with by the regional corporation.
