More than 30 households in Waitolu, Naitasiri, have been affected by excavation works for the laying of underground water pipes for the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF).
According to resident Peceli Tabuagasau, villagers were not “properly” consulted by WAF and the Environment Ministry prior to the start of works. He said they were told the pipes were being installed by a contractor to provide water for Nausori and Suva residents.
“They did a consultation but did not tell us the impact of this development, the mitigation control they had with them and the measures they would take,” Mr Tabuagasau said.
“When we had asked them about the pipes, they told us it would be placed above ground and they were waiting for approval from the Environment Ministry.
“When they got the approval from the ministry, they also dug up our water source – a small creek.
“That water was an important resource for us because we used to get prawns for our food from it.
“There was a cement structure constructed by the government to help divert water to the culvert. “They have demolished that cement structure and we weren’t told how they would go about with the pipe laying.”
Mr Tabuagasau said no proper consultation was held where the villages could raise their concerns. “The consultations they held did not detail the environmental impacts that would emerge out of this development. “They have blocked the driveway to houses with soil.
“Our water pipes in the village were damaged and we were without water for seven days in July.
“Their digger had dug up the pipes which caused the leak.”
Mr Tabuagasau said one of their biggest concerns was the fact that WAF’s contractor apparently intended to lay pipes across the village.
“I had written to the Environment Ministry and asked who had given them consent to put the pipes across the village.
“The ministry said they had a letter from the turaganikoro but when I had asked him he said there were no approval given to them to lay the pipes across the village.
“When I asked the ministry for an impact assessment because they have damaged our qoliqoli which is the creek, they told us our water comes from that creek. “I told them they have polluted the creek. “When it rains, the soil and gravel from the extraction goes into the water source.”
Turaganikoro Anare Tuidraki said he did not give any consent to the Ministry of Environment.
“I won’t be able to give any approval if the villagers have not allowed for the development to take place,” he said.
“The Ministry of Environment representatives came to the village, however, there was no letter I had signed.
“They are making false accusations and I listen to what the villagers will say.”
Minister for Infrastructure Jone Usamate said operational issues were addressed by WAF and they were expected to comply with all necessary requirements by all regulatory agencies.
“Your query is being forwarded to WAF and ministry staff so that they can address this,” he said.
The contractor’s representative declined to comment on the issue and directed The Fiji Times to their consultant. The consultant also declined to comment and directed The Fiji Times to WAF.
Meanwhile, WAF said they were going to look into the claims made.
• Questions sent to the Ministry of Environment on the claims made by Mr Tabuagasau and Mr Tuidraki remain unanswered when this edition went to press.
