Family Relocates After Kumar Warns of Danger
After torrential rain over the week the Mani family had their home on the edge of a cliff as a result of a landslide
Afamily of 13 in Newtown, Nasinu, was relocated to a church hall after torrential rain over the week had their home on the edge of a cliff. It was a result of a landslide. Sudesh Mani and his family members were visited by the Minister for Housing and Community Development Premila Kumar yesterday.
She also met other residents of Balabala Crescent in Newtown.
“The ministry issued a letter to the family whose house was on the edge of the landslide yesterday, requesting them to vacate their house, given the high possibility of the house collapsing should it continue to rain,” she said. “The family took heed of our advice and vacated their home this afternoon. With the assistance of the Divisional Office, Mr Mani and his family will be accommodated at the Newtown Seventh Day Adventist Hall temporarily until their house is built at a safer location.” Ms Kumar said after consulting engineers of the Housing Authority of Fiji, it was discovered, the initial lot was bought in 2004 with a safe slope cut on the hillside.
The lot was later resold in 2016 and upon inspection by Nasinu Town Council in 2017, the safe slope cut was removed and a straight cut was made to the cliff to reclaim around five metres of land.
“With continued heavy rainfall in the last couple of days, it made it even faster for the soil and rocks to slide down the hill, resulting in blocked drains and floodwater entering into the homes of some residents at the foot of the hill,” said Ms Kumar.
She it was important to obtain the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities, before excavation works were carried out to avoid any risk to property, people or future development. With the assistance of the Ministry of Housings carpenters and upon Mr Mani’s consent, the family’s home will be relocated and built within the same settlement.