It is encouraging to note that communities in Rakiraki have raised their concerns on the poor drainage and flooding experienced over recent weeks.
It may be encouraging but there is also the issue of why this must be raised now. Hasn’t anything been done about this? If that is the case. Then we ask why?
Because if there is to be a study conducted on why this is happening frequently then we are just wasting our time. So let’s not waste time and get to work!
We know a couple of facts about our country. We have a rainy season. We have a cyclone season that stretches from November through to April.
We have been having floods in a couple of areas around the country. They also haven’t just popped out of the woodworks so to speak.
Floods are happening almost every year in Labasa on Vanua Levu, in Sigatoka, Nadi, Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki in the Western Division on Viti Levu.
So let’s not waste time with studies and get down to the work of mitigating flood risks, and working out ways to keep our communities safe, and these areas safe from the regular floodwaters.
Ra District Council of Social Services member Adi Vutevute Emi said poor drainage issues have led to the drainage system acting as a place for collecting and transporting runoff water which is a contributing factor to the problem faced by nearby communities during the Easter holiday last week.
Most of the areas and roads in Rakiraki, she noted, were flooded because heavy rainfall and poor drainage along the main Kings Highway and other connecting roads.
Flooding, she said, impacted a number of communities, including Vunitogoloa Village, Navuavua Village, Navolau and Ellington in Rakiraki.
In the face of this, it is encouraging to hear Minister for Rural, Maritime and Disaster Management Sakiasi Ditoka say rehabilitation efforts to clear debris from flood prone areas in Rakiraki have started in coordination with the Commissioner Western Division and National Disaster Management Office (NDMO).
Like Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) executive director Vani Catanasiga, we acknowledge the efforts made by the ministry and relevant stakeholders to ensure that excess water canals, drains and ditches are cleared.
That’s the way to go. But much like many residents of Delainavesi near Suva, who appear to have accepted that water cuts are part of their daily lives, we will suffer the consequences when we are resigned to living with the notion that nothing much can be done about floodwaters in these areas.
Let’s invest in long term drainage infrastructure upgrades. Let’s analyse capacity and bottlenecks, explore flood plains and natural waterways and flows, promote public awareness and preparedness and let’s invest in early warning systems.
That will mean doing things like putting together sustainable development plans and being mindful of high-risk areas. It will mean putting in place technology to monitor water levels and sound the alarm for potential flooding.
Let’s address root causes for flooding around the country, and work on building resilient communities. In the face of all this, we are also encouraged by the initiative of communities in Ra that have come forward to try and address some of their concerns.
The question is do we have the political will to face this major challenge head on urgently?
