Best Practices Essential to Save Environment

Sustainable development is paramount for any country. The Minister for Waterways Mr Mahendra Reddy says that undertaking development in line with best practices is essential to safeguard our natural environment. “Because climate change has been a major concern for Fiji and the Pacific the magnitude of work we have to do as a result of climate change is something serious,” Mr Reddy said.

One of the initiatives by the ministry is the planting of Vetiver Grass along river banks in Vitogo, Lautoka to avoid bank erosion.

The roots of the grass tend to go five metres deep into the river, the netting of which firmly binds the soil.

It also does not incur any threats to the natural eco-system.

The river generally gets flooded and the ministry is actively looking for solutions to combat the problem.

While visiting Vitogo and Naikabula

Villages in Lautoka on Thursday, Mr

Reddy said that a lot of plans had been aligned to the ministry’s effort in trying to reduce drainage problems.

A thorough drainage development will be conducted at

Naikabula Village.

Another initiative by the ministry is the installation of boulders at a settlement near Vuda Village to act was wave breakers.

This will minimise the effects caused by heavy currents. Mr Reddy said that he was also concerned with some recent practices.

He also said some drainage work would be undertaken in Narewa Village.

Tomasi Sauqaqa, landowner and developer at Naikabula Village said he was really pleased with the Government’s effort in upgrading the infrastructure.

“In this way, we can best utilise our land,” he said. “We had faced major issues with development previously due to incurrences of high costs.

“I think we are in good hands now.”

He said that the development was vital for everyone in the community. Edited by Percy Kean

In this way, we can best utilise our land. We had faced major issues with development previously due to incurrences of high costs. I think we are in good hands now. Tomasi Sauqaqa, Landowner and developer at Naikabula Village One of the initiatives by the ministry is the planting of Vetiver Grass along river banks in Vitogo, Lautoka to avoid bank erosion. The roots of the grass tend to go five metres deep into the river, the netting of which firmly binds the soil.