Government has contributed $2.8 million this year to subsidise waste collection in cities, towns and rural areas.
This was highlighted by the Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar while speaking at the World Cities Day Expo at Albert Park today. She says 56% of the Fijian population lives in the urban and peri-urban areas of Fiji, and this number is estimated to increase to 61% by the year 2030.
Kumar says government is committed to address urbanisation concerns through integrated planning, strengthening urban governance and balancing rural-urban developments.
She says with the rapid urbanization, exerting pressure on water supplies, sewage, solid waste collection, the living environment, and public health, we need to work together to design solutions that meet real needs of the communities.
Kumar says it is important that as policy makers and urban managers, they need to respect and engage communities in urban planning, implementation and monitoring to create the cities of the future.
