The transfer of drainage management systems within municipal council boundaries to the Fiji Roads Authority has contributed to increased flooding in urban centres.
This was revealed in the Consolidated Review Report of the Lautoka City Council’s 2015-2017 annual reports by the Committee on Social Affairs on Tuesday in Parliament where both the Opposition and the Government called for the return of this responsibility to municipal councils.
Deputy Opposition Leader Parveen Kumar said the flooding within Lautoka City was a recent occurrence.
“This was not happening before but now when we have heavy downpours, we have areas in Lautoka where it floods,” said Mr Kumar. “When we were in the council, we were told this is the responsibility of the Fiji Roads Authority but at the end of the day the ratepayers know their respective councils and they rely on them.”
Opposition MP Hem Chand echoed the call, adding the Lautoka City Council had made submissions to the Government requesting the transfer and the management of streetlights.
In response, Local Government Minister Maciu Nalumisa said it was the previous administration that took away this responsibility from the municipal councils.
“We are mitigating that by including that in our next budget to make sure our municipalities are being fully equipped in assisting in flood mitigation,” he said.
