More than 3,000 people to benefit from the desilting works on the Drauniivi River in Ra

More than 3,000 Fijians living adjacent to the Drauniivi River in Ra are expected to be protected from flooding following the commissioning of desilting works at the river.

The desilting works are expected to safeguard Fijians living in Drauniivi, Togovere, Vunitogoloa, Naivavuni, Narewa, and Vitawa village.

A total of two kilometres of river desilting works will be undertaken by the Ministry of Waterways under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreement with Super Construction and Civil Works Limited.

The General Secretary for the Vatukaloko Development and the Advisory to the Committee Sele Tagivuni says due to too much silt in the river over the years, close to six villages and the farms adjacent to this river is always subject to flooding.

Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Doctor Mahendra Reddy has given his assurance that all communities that they will progressively attend to the issues raised with them.

He says they have work to do and it is not something that they'll be able to finish in a couple of years as requests from communities to them are increasing on a daily basis.