Contributed by Nationwide Radio
The National Irrigation Commission Limited, NIC, says following last week’s oil spill, it has shut down the Rio Cobre Irrigation System in St. Catherine.
The commission says recent assessments indicated potential risks to the water quality in the Rio Cobre.
It says this is what prompted it to take proactive measures.
The NIC says it prioritises the well being of its farmers and the importance of a secure and reliable irrigation system.
It says the temporary suspension is a precautionary step taken to safeguard against any potential adverse effects on the crops of the farmers that utilize the system.
The National Environment and Planning Agency, NEPA, has served an Enforcement Notice on Trade Winds Citrus, the owners of the property from which oil reportedly found its way into the Rio Cobre.
