Fiji’s Minister for Local Government, Housing and Environment, Parveen Kumar Bala, said that funding for the Vaileka River dredging works will be provided by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Fiji Times reports.
Following a stakeholder meeting with Rakiraki residents and business owners earlier this year, the minister said that the removal of silt from the river was a major need for the flood-prone town.
“In that meeting I assured the residents and businesses that phase one was the clearing up of the Penang bridge and its river,” he said.
“The work was carried out by the Ministry of Works and I assured people at the stakeholders meeting that dredging works was needed to be done too.
“I discussed this matter with the Minister for Agriculture (Inia Seruiratu) because dredging comes under his ministry.
“He has agreed to put funds into the dredging of the Vaileka River,” concluded the minister.
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