“This is an extremely serious environmental issue and I cannot see why the authorities have been dragging their feet on it for three years. Not only the livelihood but the security of these villagers is in question and yet nothing has been done to regulate extraction works on the river...
“Our Prime Minister is travelling the globe preaching climate change and sustainable development taking account of the need to protect the environment yet here at home, his government is allowing commercial environmental exploitation which is endangering the lives and livelihoods of villagers”
FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry
Navua River gravel #scam
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has questioned why no action has been taken in the past three years to address issues of environmental impact created by gravel extraction works on the Navua River.
Mr Chaudhry is reacting to a front page report in the Fiji Times today (18/8) that indiscriminate gravel extraction from sections of the river have imperiled the food sources, livelihood and mode of transportation for some 1000 villagers as well as tourism activities that used to be based on the Navua River.
“This is an extremely serious environmental issue and I cannot see why the authorities have been dragging their feet on it for three years. Not only the livelihood but the security of these villagers is in question and yet nothing has been done to regulate extraction works on the river,” Mr Chaudhry said.
“Our Prime Minister is travelling the globe preaching climate change and sustainable development taking account of the need to protect the environment yet here at home, his government is allowing commercial environmental exploitation which is endangering the lives and livelihoods of villagers,” he said.
“We do not accept the comment from Acting Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources, Malakai Nalawa that the companies extracting gravel had valid licences.
“What kind of Environment Impact Assessment was carried out when over three years the Navua River has become shallower by about two metres ( according to the village headman) exposing gravel and big rocks, disturbing the river’s ecosystem and endangering fish stock as well as boating activities in the river? he asked.
Mr Chaudhry has called for an immediate suspension of all extraction works on the river to allow for a proper environmental impact study to verify the concerns of the villagers affected by it.
“In fact, all extraction should be stopped in the future to allow the river to regain its natural flow and ecosystem. Further extraction works should only be allowed after credible EIAs have been undertaken and it must be monitored to ensure sustainable extraction,” he said.
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has questioned why no action has been taken in the past three years to address issues of environmental impact created by gravel extraction works on the Navua River.
Mr Chaudhry is reacting to a front page report in the Fiji Times today (18/8) that indiscriminate gravel extraction from sections of the river have imperiled the food sources, livelihood and mode of transportation for some 1000 villagers as well as tourism activities that used to be based on the Navua River.
“This is an extremely serious environmental issue and I cannot see why the authorities have been dragging their feet on it for three years. Not only the livelihood but the security of these villagers is in question and yet nothing has been done to regulate extraction works on the river,” Mr Chaudhry said.
“Our Prime Minister is travelling the globe preaching climate change and sustainable development taking account of the need to protect the environment yet here at home, his government is allowing commercial environmental exploitation which is endangering the lives and livelihoods of villagers,” he said.
“We do not accept the comment from Acting Permanent Secretary for Lands and Mineral Resources, Malakai Nalawa that the companies extracting gravel had valid licences.
“What kind of Environment Impact Assessment was carried out when over three years the Navua River has become shallower by about two metres ( according to the village headman) exposing gravel and big rocks, disturbing the river’s ecosystem and endangering fish stock as well as boating activities in the river? he asked.
Mr Chaudhry has called for an immediate suspension of all extraction works on the river to allow for a proper environmental impact study to verify the concerns of the villagers affected by it.
“In fact, all extraction should be stopped in the future to allow the river to regain its natural flow and ecosystem. Further extraction works should only be allowed after credible EIAs have been undertaken and it must be monitored to ensure sustainable extraction,” he said.
