Desilting to reduce Rakiraki Town floods
De-silting works along the Nakauvadra River in Rakiraki have commenced.
The earthworks will minimise flooding in Rakiraki Town and neighboring communities. Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Mahendra Reddy commissioned the works at the Nakauvadra River in Rakiraki.
He said de-silting works done by the Ministry of Waterways would benefit Rakiraki Town, including communities, and farmers who earned a living along the river bank.
Mr Reddy said the emergency desilting work would ease water flow of the river and its adjacent creeks during the heavy rain.
Public responsibility
Mr Reddy said the onus was equally on the public role in maintain creeks and drains by using proper disposal measures for rubbish.
Maintenance
“We will continue to provide services within our mandate to ensure Fijians are safe from flooding and waterways are clear for the free flow of water during heavy down-pour.
“While an enormous amount of drainage works has been done by the ministry, we still find these drainage systems are not well maintained once cleared, and are often filled with white goods, tires, household rubbish, motor vehicle parts, which block the drains causing floods during heavy rainfall,” Mr Reddy said.
The de-silting works will be carried out from the Rakiraki market towards the mouth of the Penang River and would be referred to as the 3rd Phase of Nakauvadra River Channel Improvements Works.
The de-silting will comprise of the removal of rubbish, excessive silts, and sediments, cleaning, and
disposal of debris and dead tree.