The Ministry of Waterways is working closely with municipal councils to deal with drainage problems.

Minister Mahendra Reddy confirmed this saying they were providing the services of their engineers for free to the councils to conduct assessments.

“When municipal councils were undertaking the drainage work our engineers went around and they did the monitoring and gave them the report on the quality of work done by the contractors,” he said.

Nasinu Town Council chief executive officer Lute Berends said flooding was common in low lying areas such as lower Narere, lower Nadawa, Makoi and Tovata.

“Our primary plan is to address these high-risk areas, since all these areas are low-lying, we intend excavate channel types drains,” Mr Berends said.

“We won’t excavate deep, but wide to allow for an increase in drain capacity.”

He said their bigger challenge was access to these areas and overcrowding of the houses.

“People have built their homes on the drain edge.

“We are grateful of the assistance by the New Ministry of Waterways for funding and assisting this very important activity of the council.”

Nasinu Town Council was allocated $476,000 for the 2017-2018 budget.

Meanwhile, for informal settlements, Mr Reddy said the issue was that they could not conduct major structural works and places as such were deemed “illegal development”.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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