Following concerns raised by vendors over an alleged sewage overflow at the Lautoka Market, the Lautoka City Council clarifies that the incident was caused by an overflowing grease trap from a restaurant operating within the market.
Market vendors had raised concerns that the overflow created unhygienic conditions, affected business and forced some stallholders to close for the day.
A vendor claims the overflow had been present since last week and alleged that concerns raised with market authorities were not addressed promptly.
The vendor also says the smell from the overflow was affecting the market environment and discouraging customers from visiting stalls in the affected area.
However, Lautoka City Council Head of Services Shalend Singh says an inspection found that the incident was caused by an overflow from a grease trap belonging to a restaurant operating within the market.
Singh says the affected entrance was closed while vendors operating in the area were temporarily relocated.
He adds that a nearby stall owner was given the option to close their stall yesterday while clean-up work was carried out.
Singh says the grease trap was emptied and cleaned on Sunday noting that it was the first time the grease trap had overflowed.
He says the restaurant owner has been cautioned and advised to have the grease trap emptied every three months to prevent a similar incident from occurring again.
