VILLAGERS PLEA TO WYCLIFFE MEETS WITH ACTION
DRAUNIIVI IN RAKIRAKI GETS FLOODED FREQUENTLY WITH FLOOD WATERS ENTERING THE VILLAGE DURING HEAVY AND CONTINUOUS RAINFALL AND DELUGES PROFUSELY IN TIMES OF NATURAL DISASTERS. The Drauniivi/Naseyani vanua development advisory committee invited the ministry
Aremote village located a few kilometres away from Rakiraki Town is facing the direct and rippling effects of climate change.
Villagers have called for urgent intervention and assistance from the Government.
Sandwiched between two rivers the Drauniivi Village is home to more than 2000 people.
The village gets flooded frequently with flood waters entering the village during heavy and continuous rainfall and deluges profusely in times of natural disasters.
And to add to the villagers’ nightmare, the village is also located by the sea, facing coastal inundation during high tides resulting in salt water intrusion into the village.
The Drauniivi/Naseyani vanua development advisory committee invited the ministry of Waterways and Environment to see firsthand the issues they were faced with and how they could be assisted.
Committee general secretary Sele Tagivuni said that the buildup of sediments in the rivers upstream had caused havoc for them.
“We are considering of relocation to another area for the safety and security of our future generation,” Mr Tagivuni said.
“A number of villagers have also emigrated to urban centres due to the current issue we are facing. “Removing the sediments and cleaning the river is the only way forward. The committee has resolved to work with the Government in this regard to save the village from the wrath of
mother nature.”
He further added that school children had to cross Yaqara River to attend school in Naseyani.
“If it rains in the highlands, the river gets flooded and poses a risk to the school children. Thus affects their education,” he said.
Government to the rescue
Permanent Secretary Joshua Wycliffe accompanied by other senior officers from the Ministry of Waterways and Environment visited the village on Wednesday and had discussions with villagers for a way forward. “The effects of climate change including cyclones and flooding have a lasting impact on people, communities and the economy of the country,” Wycliffe said.
“The Government is equally concerned and given the seriousness and the urgency to solve the problem, we decided to pay a visit to the community today.”
The team sat with the villagers, explored and established a creative solution based around a Public Private Partnership model - to carry out works in both rivers.
Mr Wycliffe reiterated that the model, originally designed by his line minister Mahendra Reddy and the team had been quite popular around the country.
The vanua development committee thanked the ministry for taking a proactive approach and was hopeful that their concerns would be addressed soon.
Source: Ministry of Waterways and Environment