Reddy Commissions Project to Solve Flooding Issue View gallery

Aneglected drainage work that caused numerous flooding and cost the lives of two in Batinikama, Labasa has now been addressed.

This was after the Minister for Waterways Mahendra Reddy commissioned a flood mitigation programme for the area yesterday. “This programme will cost $28,500 and will take 30 days to complete,” Mr Reddy said.

“The proposed flood mitigation work includes the cleaning and disposal of debris and dead tree trunks of 300 acres to the lower reaches of Qawa River which has disturbed the free flow since Tropical Cyclone Winston in 2016.

“Also desilting of the drainage channel if required due to the sedimentation which has elevated the river beds and reduced the channel sections causing the banks to overflow and cause widespread flooding in Nagado flat.”

He said desilting will accommodate the Probable Maximum Flow (PMF) and it will definitely reduce flooding in this area.

“The total length of debris and desilting works is 300 acres around Batinikama to Linepoint. “The Batinikama to Namoli flats area has been prone to flooding for a long time due to many factors such as cultivated farm erosion, soil erosion in catchment areas and logging that have elevated the creeks bed level over the years, debris with tree trunks blocked and disturbed the river flow and also due to the nature of the drainage systems that discharged at a very low rate to the Qawa River. “With the work that the ministry will carry out approximately 3500 people will benefit in these areas.

“The two that lost their lives were Rohit Prasad, 21 and Gaya Prasad, 45, during the flash flood in 2007,” Mr Reddy said.

Advisory Councillor of Batinikama Anita Devi said she was thankful that the works were now going to be done.

“There are two schools in our area, Batinikama College and Batinikama Primary School and during flash flood the roads leading to these schools gets under water,” Ms Devi said.

“Children missed school, people from Namoli Village had to walk to town to go to work because buses can’t cross flooded road.

“I can’t wait to see the much needed work done as this will improve the livelihood of 600 households in our area.”