A ruptured four-inch WASA pipeline literally washed away remedial works done on a landslide in Coromandel Village, Cedros, creating a gaping hole across the main road.
Commuters, however, were not affected as traffic was diverted through alternative routes which were being used while the Ministry of Works was repairing the landslide.
Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan said the landslide was caused by a leaking WASA line which undermined the area. “WASA did temporary repairs today and is expected to complete repairs tomorrow. Once that is done we (Ministry) will start our repairs. We are on it.”
Cedros councillor Shankar Teelucksingh said the landslide along the Southern Main Road was developed months ago and the ministry was doing remedial works.
“They (Ministry of Works) were in the final stage of the road preparation, apparently the road was opened, and on Wednesday night, a WASA four-inch pipeline was ruptured, creating a bigger landslide. About three-quarter of the roadway was lost.”
He said the Siparia Regional Corporation, WASA and the Ministry teams worked throughout the day yesterday trying to create a single lane to make it passable to vehicular traffic.
“It is about 90 per cent completed so I expected by 6.30 pm the road should be reopened to single lane traffic,” said Teelucksingh.
However, Teelucksingh said apart from that landslide there are about four other major landslides along that road between Cap-de-Ville junction and Icacos.
“We are seeing a long struggle after we got a major one at Chatham being repaired. Repairs started a month ago,” said Teelucksingh, but he added, “Nothing is being done at this point in time about the other landslides.”
Teelucksingh appealed to the authorities to also repair those landslides as fast as possible.