VILLAGERS of Nakavika in Namosi will meet tomorrow to decide whether they will consent to the construction of the proposed Wainikoroiluva hydropower plant or not.
Revealing this, Nakavika Village headman Mario Senimoli said they had rejected the proposed project because they were worried about the livelihoods of villagers of Navunikabi, who were located upstream from the site of the proposed project.
He said one of their grounds for objection was that the area of land they owned was decreasing and they were also worried about their future generation.
“We thought of the villagers upstream, that their village might be flooded so that’s why we objected to the project too,” he said.
Mr Senimoli said their final decision would be aired at tomorrow’s meeting.
Villagers of Navunikabi had walked out of a meeting with the developer of the hydro, Hydro VL Pty Ltd, and other stakeholders involved in the project.
Navunikabi Village leader Nikola Rokowai said they staged the protest because they did not agree with the construction of the proposed project because it would flood their village.
Wainikovu and Waivaka hydropower project is estimated to cost $200 million.
