Quarrying licenses of all companies now under review

The Permanent Secretary for Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources Malakai Finau says they are now reviewing the quarrying licenses of all companies after concerns raised by the users of the Navua River.

Earlier this year, the government had said that they had received complaints of the issue of the river becoming shallower upstream and it was inaccessible by boats that are utilised as a mode of transport by villagers and communities in the upper Navua River.

Finau says they have acknowledged the concerns raised by them and that they are doing what they can to help them.

He says there is a gravel extraction guideline that they are currently following to ensure environment protection and to make sure the other river users are safe.

Meanwhile he says at the same time there is a need for rock resources in the gravel extraction for infrastructural work and development.

Finau says they are also reviewing if licenses of all quarrying companies are valid.