More than 11,700 Fijians have benefitted from river bank protection works carried out by the Ministry of Waterways and Environment in 2018/2019 financial year.

Minister for Waterways and Environment, Doctor Mahendra Reddy says other projects are expected to be completed between November and December 2019.

He adds their engineers had completed survey and detail designs for approximately 10 other river bank protections works, some of which will be implemented in 2019/2020 fiscal year.

Minister Reddy reiterated major river dredging and drainage improvement work on Waidina, Wainibuabua, Weilagi, Penang, Deuba and Nawaka rivers are planned for the current financial year.

He says these projects are designed to restore the conveyance capacity of rivers and creeks for maximum discharge and to minimize riverbank erosion.

He adds the Drainage and Flood Protection Programme allows for the provision of adequate infrastructure to mitigate the impacts of the flooding, including riverbank protection on our vulnerable communities.

Meanwhile, a total of $3 million has been allocated for the Drainage and flood protection program by the Ministry of Waterways and Environment in the 2019/2020 financial year.

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