WOMEN of Navunikabi Village in the interior of Namosi are pleading with relevant authorities to remember them and their families.
The villagers claim they will be the first to be inundated with water once the construction of the proposed Wainikoroiluva hydropower plant goes ahead.
Usenia Tavutavu, 45, and her husband depend on farming and the Wainikoroiluva river for their day-to-day survival.
“We do not agree with the construction of the hydro, we cross the river every day to get to our plantation and we also get what we eat from this river since we are far away from the sea,” she said.
Kelera Biuwai, 43, said she used the river daily to get food for her family.
She claimed that food prices were expensive and the river had met their daily needs.
“I get our food from this river every day and if the water level in the river rises, we have to look for other food we can eat,” Ms Biuwai said.
In an environment impact assessment (EIA) report submitted by the developers, Hydro VL Pty Ltd, to the Department of Environment, it highlighted that during construction and operation phases, there was likely to be permanent impacts on the type of fish and other aquatic species available to be caught by villagers in the Wainikoroiluva river in and around the project area.
The report also revealed that villagers of Navunikabi and other nearby areas might want to adapt to new fishing methods in the reservoir as a result.
