Illegal Occupants on State Land, Road Reserves will be Removed: Minister Sudhakar
The process to remove those illegally occupying State Land and road reserves either for homes or market stalls has started. Minister for Lands Ashneel Sudhakar confirmed that the market vendors along Mead Road in Suva just outside MaxValu Superfresh had been given notices.
Mr Sudhakar said the occupation of State Land without consent was also deemed as theft.
Homes and market stalls have popped up on the roadsides along
The recent installation of a new flow meter by the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) at the Saru Reservoir, Lautoka now benefits approximately more than 35,000 Fijians , according to Regional Manager West, Romulusi Mataitoga. the Suva-Nausori corridor. Some on footpaths, others next to the road and these are being done illegally according to the Ministry of Land. People are living in mangroves in Suva, Nasinu and Lami.
The explanation given by the people who have been doing this was that the land did not belong to anybody and they could build there. “Most of the road reserves had been handed over to the Fiji Roads Authority. This was done to ensure that theFRA was able to utilise these lands when upgrading roads,” Mr Sudhakar said.
“We have information on some
“All our customers that are feeding from Saru Reservoir have always faced the challenge of low water pressure and intermittent supply when larger particles clog up on the turbine which results in low water pressure ,” he said.
The old mechanical bulk meter people who have been encroaching on Crown Land and State Reserves. This is not allowed.
“We have to take steps because there is confusion on who will take these people to task. We also need the public to give us information if they are aware of such developments and help eliminate illegal constructions as such.” Mr Sudhakar said shanty town structures popping around the city area had also given it a bad image. He added there were associated health and safety risks. Mr Sudhakar said if people refused to leave, they would be taken was replaced with the new flow meter which now gives WAF customers an improved pressure to their water supply.
According to Mr Mataitoga “the new flow meter will not only benefit our customers but will also make our work easier by generating accuto court to seek an order for their removal.
The vendors on Mead Road said they would not move. Some claimed they had been allowed to build there by a cabinet minister and some said they had permission from a ministerial office.
Mr Sudhakar clarified that no such permission was given and their occupation of the land was illegal and therefore they must be removed. He also stated that 43 homes in Labasa which had built along the banks of the Labasa River had also been given notices to move. rate reading on the water quantity, water consumption by our customers and the flow reading.” A 12-member crew worked around the clock from 7pm on Friday to 5am Saturday (25/01) conducting the installations.