Agriculture ministry surveys dredging works

The level of sedimentation and scope for dredging works for the Nadi, Ba, Rakiraki and Tavua rivers are currently being urgently surveyed by Department of Agriculture engineers.

Director for Land and Water Resource Management Division Colin Simmons said heavy sedimentation raises the levels of the river beds and reduces its discharge capacity causing increased frequency of flooding.   

He added while the objective of river dredging works is to increase the discharge capacity of the river through the removal of sediment to efficiently drain flood waters, dredging works on its own cannot alleviate floods.

Simmons said proper land use planning, flood plain and zoning regulations, flood forecasting, hazard and risk planning are some flood management strategies that also need to be included.


Story by: William Waqavakatga