A Dutch Disaster Risk Reduction team has recommended a hydrodynamic model for the Ba catchment area to avoid floods in the township of Ba.

Minister for Waterways Mahendra Reddy said the team found that large parts of Ba Town had been developed in flood-prone areas.

“While floodwaters have a major impact on Ba Town, soil erosion and sedimentation is a serious issue because this aggravates the impact of floods,” he said.

Mr Reddy said the report showed that soil erosion in the Ba watershed is 69 tons per hectare every year, which corresponds to soil loss of 4.6 mm per year. As an immediate next step for the Ba catchment, the Dutch team suggested carrying out a feasibility study for flood plains lowering based on hydrodynamic modeling.

“The ministry values this recommendation and will start discussions with the Asian Development Bank to support the implementation of this modeling study through the Netherlands Trust Fund under the Water Financing Partnership Facility at ADB,” Mr Reddy said.

“A set of integrated interventions to mitigate floods in Ba Town and surrounding settlements is needed.

“This set consists of a mix of three individual interventions: dredging upstream and downstream of the Kings Road Bridge, refurbishment of the Kings Road Bridge and floodplain lowering next to the bridge.”

Similar findings have been reported for Rakiraki.

Edited by Percy Kean

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