Nadi River Rehabilitation project to take about 3 years to complete

The Nadi River Rehabilitation project will take about 3 years to complete and cost about $300 million.

This was highlighted by the Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum while briefing parliament on Fiji’s stand in Climate Finance Readiness.

The Acting Prime Minister says Climate Finance Readiness is an initiative that has been launched by the Green Climate Fund.

He adds that a lot of work goes into identifying projects, carrying out assessments of those projects, after which Fiji is able to have access to funds to assist with those projects from the Green Climate Fund.

Sayed-Khaiyum has also highlighted that this project will involve the building of bridges, building of water dams, building pools and rehabilitating sides of the river bank.

He says water levels near Namotomoto village and neighboring villages are slowly coming closer to the village boundaries.

Sayed-Khaiyum stresses that there is a great need to rehabilitate the Nadi River.

The Acting Prime Minister adds that Fiji is at the moment developing a programme to send through to the Green Climate Fund to assist in the work needed to complete the Nadi River Rehabilitation project.

When asked by Opposition MP Niko Naiwaikula how can the Acting Prime Minister assure that the money allocated by the Green Climate Fund is not diverted elsewhere.

Sayed-Khaiyum says international agencies do not send funding in a lump sum.

The Acting Prime Minister highlighted that as part of adaptation funding assistance, the Green Climate funds will be allocated as work progresses and upon completion of each stage.

Sayed-Khaiyum also highlighted that the first trench of funds that Fiji received is a contribution from Green Climate Fund of $USD32 million for the Water and Sanitation assistance in the Suva-Nausori corridor and this was channeled through the Asian Development Bank, as it is an accredited organization.