A shortage of machinery is contributing to delays in efforts aimed at addressing flooding issues in Nadi, according to Dr Andrew Tukana, Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Waterways.
This comes as residents and businesses in Nadi continue to raise concerns about the long-delayed Nadi Flood Alleviation Project, particularly after flooding and severe weather affected the town last week.
Speaking to fijivillage News on the issue, Dr Tukana says while dredging and waterway works are continuing across Fiji, progress has been affected by a shortage of government machinery.
He says the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways is currently outsourcing some dredging work to private contractors in order to continue river maintenance.
Dr Tukana explained that the Waterways Division is responsible for rivers, streams and drains, while municipal councils and the Fiji Roads Authority handle drainage within towns and cities.
He says the agencies are working closely together to coordinate responsibilities and improve flood mitigation efforts.
The Permanent Secretary also confirms that dredging of rivers is continuing not only in Nadi, but in other parts of Fiji to reduce the impact of flooding.
He acknowledges that flash flooding can still occur but says efforts are underway to address rivers that have become shallow over time.
Dr Tukana says the ministry is also carrying out initial damage assessments following the recent flooding to determine whether crops have been significantly affected.
He adds that the Government will consider assistance programmes to help farmers recover if substantial damage is confirmed.
Meanwhile, calls for urgent action on the flood alleviation project have intensified in recent days.
President of the Nadi Chamber of Commerce, Lawrence Kumar, has warned that continued delays in implementing the project are costing businesses millions of dollars in flood-related losses.
Kumar describes the project as a “sitting duck”, noting that although around $400 million in funding has reportedly been secured through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific and the Japan International Cooperation Agency, there has been little visible progress on the ground.
He says repeated flooding continues to cause financial losses for businesses in Nadi and believes the impact of the most recent floods could have been reduced if the project had been implemented sooner.
Kumar adds that dredging of the Nadi River should have been carried out to improve water flow at the river mouth and reduce flood levels during heavy rainfall and high tide events.
The flood alleviation project, which began in April 2019, aims to introduce structural and non-structural measures to protect Nadi Town and the lower Nadi River floodplain from flooding.
Proposed works include the construction of drainage systems, embankments, reservoirs and protective dykes around the town.
Despite years of planning and allocated funding, business leaders say residents and businesses are still waiting to see meaningful progress on the project.
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