TO support the work on early detection of landslides, the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) has engaged technical teams to conduct soil surveys.
Minister for Infrastructure Jone Usamate made this known in Parliament last week while responding to a question from Opposition MP Aseri Radrodro on Government’s plans to ensure public safety from the threats of landslides at vulnerable spots occurring along our roads.
Mr Usamate said the technical teams would do soil surveys on topography and slope stability surveys along some of our major highways so they could try to predict in advance where those events were likely to happen.
He said those assessments by the FRA was helpful in trying to support the areas where there should be priority-focussed on trying to address the likelihood of landslides happening.
“We know that a lot of landslides may happen because of a lot of different things. One, of course, is because of poor landuse planning – the way that we use land; another major issue also is deforestation, people cutting down trees and because that happens, there is a likelihood of landslides happening,” Mr Usamate said.
“So, there is a need to ensure that land and property owners implement good landuse practices in order to better protect our roads and other public infrastructure.
“I think other arms of Government are also talking about these issues; the issue of deforestation, landuse planning to try to minimise the likelihood of landslides happening.
“So, I would like to assure the House the plans in place to try to address the threat of landslides and slips. We cannot be in all places at one time, it is important that you focus on areas that matter the most in terms of ensuring the safety of the travelling public to ensure better protection also of our road network infrastructure.”
