Reddy Maps Plan To Tackle Town Flooding, Drainage
Cost of project tips $200,000 mark
A$212,000 project by the Ministry of Waterways will soon take form to help address the issue of drainage and flooding in Rakiraki Town. This was confirmed yesterday by Minister of Waterways Mahendra Reddy during a public consulta- tion held at the Rakiraki Town Council Conference Room. Mr Reddy said the initiative was a three-year programme and works were expected to start next month. “This Saturday there will be a tender coming out to contract out a particular tender to dredge the river. This will happen in one-anda-half month’s time for the particular project to begin,” he said. “The establishment of the Ministry of Waterways demonstrates government’s commitment to en- sure that issues like flooding are addressed.
“This is a long-term strategy where it recognises the importance of waterways. Up till now we still have not realised its importance. We have taken for granted that waterways are there. It is time to address it.” Of late Rakiraki Town was subjected to flooding in February 2016, December 2017 and January 14 this year. Mr Reddy said for too long the government has been dealing with the issue of flooding in towns and there was a need for a level of commitment to deal with this problem. “Flooding happens at a particular point in time and that is the concern that we have at the moment,” he added.
“We need not talk more on what has happened in the past. All we need to do now is work together towards the future to help minimise floods.
“We are developing ways to deal with this problem holistically. It is about time we address the problems at the national level - the importance of waterways and what are the commitments in looking after waterways to ensure that future Fijians also have access to it.” The Rakiraki Town Council will begin its work next Monday.