THE Standing Committee on Natural Resources yesterday discussed issues regarding Nawailevu’s bauxite mine and how rehabilitation work was to be done to restore sustainable lands for its future generation.
The discussion followed a draft petition from the Nawailevu landowners being considered in Parliament.
Opposition member of Parliament Mosese Bulitavu said the plea of the people of Nawailevu was seriously looked into and the committee was now focusing on resolving their environmental issues.
“That is something the committee is now considering and there will also be other stakeholders who will be making presentation in regards to the environment impact to see whether the EIA made by both the company and the landowning representatives were complied with or has it been compromised,” he said.
“The community, in partnership with the recommendations from the committee, are going to seriously look into its environmental impacts and maybe on how the environment could be restored in a position where it is usable and sustainable for future generations.”
Mr Bulitavu said they also discussed issues such as climate change.
“We had talked about the rehabilitation on how the company has been refilling the mined area by filling saw dusts and mud and whether the fixation done there is enough.
“Of course, the previous natural resources that existed is no longer there and what can we do to replace it, it’s the basic rule of climate change — whatever you take must be replaced and if you don’t, the whole ecosystem will be disturbed.”
