The Ministry of Public Works (MOP) working with local contractors have started set up a new water drainage system in Colmera because this central Dili neighbourhood regularly floods during the rainy season.
The Secretary of State for MOP, Luis Vaz Rodrigues, the existing drainage piping network is currently shared with Timor Telcom telecommunications and data cables which block water drainage.
“Now we have to remove the cables and place them in some other area and set up the new water drainage system so water from the rains can run to the sea,” said the SE, from his office in Mandarin, Dili.
He added the work commenced in November and is expected to be completed in December 2013.
“The budget for completing this work is USD$3 Million,” said SE Rodrigues.
He said also once the works are completed in Colmera, the companies will move to other flooding prone areas of the capital.
“We currently only have data for the wet season but none for the dry season, which we will need to collect, to determine where we can set up the new drainage pipes.”
Meanwhile Member of Parliament MP Albina Marcal, Commission E (Infra-structure, Transport and Communication) warned MOP needs to ensure the quality of the new public works.
“During the rainy season this area [Colmera] always floods so the government has to look into this issue seriously,” said the MP.
She urged MOP to adequately and regularly monitor the companies delivering the work and to ensure designs are adhered to.
“These issues need to be looked into carefully,” MP Marcal said.
Local resident Mateus Fernandes said Colmera floods all the time when it rains so he is happy with the new water drainage system being installed.
