Dumping, Drain Cultivation Frustrate Minister

The Minister for Waterways, Mahendra Reddy, is frustrated with what he calls the ignorance of some farmers for dumping rubbish and planting crops such as dalo in drains.
During his visit to Waibogi Settlement, a 45-minute drive from Sigatoka town, he directed a farmer in the area to pull out all the dalo planted in a drain nearby.
“We are trying our best to help by clearing all drains, especially the ones near the roads, because it has been clogged with mud and debris. But I am asking people not interfere with the drainage systems by refraining from dumping rubbish or planting crops in these drains because these are our properties,” Mr Reddy said.
He added that some people had the tendency to dump their rubbish in drains which then made the ministry’s work quite difficult at times.
“When the drainage system is clogged it affects water flow and makes it stagnant. This is the reason some areas get heavily flooded during rainy weather,” Mr Reddy said.
Waibogi settlement resident 42-year-old Ajeshni Sharma thanked Government for fixing the drainage system in their farming community.
“The drainage system in this community hasn’t been fixed over decades and when it rains the roads are flooded. During rainy days our children aren’t able to attend school because the roads are flooded and floodwaters come up to chest level,” she added.
Edited by Epineri Vula
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