Questions are being raised on how the Lami foreshore area was about to be used for IMEL's floating dry dock repair works without any public consultations or an Environmental Impact Assessment.
Fijivillage questioned Lami's Special Administrator, Jasper Singh about the dry dock near the recreational area on Monday and he had told us that he had no idea.
We had noticed that the dry dock set up had already begun on Monday.
Singh later confirmed that IMEL has now been told to stop all work and to ensure that proper consultations with all stakeholders are held.
A special public forum is organised for the stakeholders at Lami Town Council office this afternoon however Singh says it will be a closed door meeting and the media will not be allowed in.
Before going into the meeting today, Singh told us that IMEL is required to comply with all the conditions stipulated which they said that they have done.
Singh said at this stage he does not know whether an Environmental Impact Assessment was conducted.
Meanwhile Suva Harbour Foundation Secretary, Robert Gillett has written to the Acting Director of Environment, Eleni Tokaduadua urging the Environment Department to conduct an Environmental Impact Assessment considering the large impact that the beaching of the dry dock is expected to have.
The Environment Management Act states that an approving authority must examine every development proposal received by it and determine whether the activity or undertaking in the proposal is likely to cause significant environmental or resource management impact.
The Act also states that the preservation of the coastal environment, margins of wetlands, lakes and rivers; the protection of outstanding natural landscapes and natural features and the protection of human life and health must be considered.
IMEL General Manager, Roger Powell said the concerns of the stakeholders will be addressed in the meeting today.
Powell said this is an out of water project whereby the floating dry dock will be raised out of the water on the Lami foreshore. He says the works include surface preparation, conduct inspections, and do the re-painting of the below water sections of the dry dock.
When asked on whether any Environmental Impact Assessment was conducted, Powell said an Environmental Management Plan was done and approved with conditions.
Fijivillage has obtained a letter from Fiji Ports Corporation to IMEL which clearly states that an environment impact assessment report has to be carried out.
Fiji Ports also requested urgent attention and assistance in the removal of the two vessels, Konpira and Tug Vitu which are currently sunk under the current position of the IMEL floating dry dock.
When we questioned Powell on these two sunken vessels, he said that IMEL is working on this with Fiji Ports Corporation.
Story by: Vijay Narayan
