There is a need for funding to curb illegal gravel & sand extractions – Dr. Taga

Some gravel and sand extractions are being illegally done in the night and there is a need for funding to be able to have monitors after normal working hours and in the weekends.

This has been revealed by the Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources, Dr Raijeli Taga while making submissions to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts on Compliance Audit Report Relating to COVID-19 Response.

Dr Taga says they are also working with the Fiji Police Force to get a memorandum of understanding which will help them to monitor and curb illegal activities.

She adds the ministry is also helping customary fishing rights owners to self regulate and for them to know the impacts of the agreements they have with the operators.

Meanwhile, Taga also told the committee that it is not viable at this stage to completely phase out river gravel and sand extraction as there is still a high demand from the Fiji Roads Authority and building contractors.

She says this is why they are still processing river gravel extraction licenses.