No mining lease can encroach onto an iTaukei village, their settlement or their traditional fishing ground - Sudhakar

Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Ashneel Sudhakar stresses that no mining lease can encroach onto an iTaukei village, their settlement or their traditional fishing ground, and they cannot relocate a village for mining or exploration purposes.

While speaking on the exploration works for magnetite by Magma Mines near the Sigatoka River Mouth, Sudhakar says there has been regular consultations with the villagers in the area he believes that they have either been instigated or not been told the facts by the opposition.

He says nobody is being removed from the site because at this moment the exploration is going on and when they find the mineral, then they will go down and see which part can be leased.

He says when a exploration license is given to a company, they are only given permission to explore and not start digging and removing minerals.

Sudhakar says if the company sees potential for mineral, then they apply for a mining lease after which a marked area is given to them and they are not allowed to go beyond that.

Sudhakar has also assured Fijians that these projects are in the best interest of the people, and the consultations have been going on with the landowners at every stage from 2015.

People that have signed SODLEPA MP, Viliame Gavoka’s petition to parliament are from the villages of Nayawa, Laselase, Yavulo, Sigatoka, Nasama, Vunavutu, Volivoli and also the Kulukulu area.

They are calling for effective and not just in-name consultations to be held before any decision is made on the mining lease by Sudhakar.

Magma Mines is exploring for magnetite which is a source of iron for making steel.

Gavoka says these communities are deeply concerned for their future welfare not to mention the environmental impact of the mine.

He says some may be forced to leave their homes.

Gavoka says this will negatively affect their livelihoods and deprive them of ancestral fishing grounds as a result of the destruction of the environment.

The petition had stated that the proposed mining area covers 2522.69 hectares.

Gavoka was hoping parliament will set-up one of its committees, to hold hearings with all stakeholders, and submit findings to parliament.

The petition was not allowed by the Speaker of Parliament as he said that parliament does not have the jurisdiction to look into the issue.