Residents of Vunato, Lautoka are pleading for swift action to address the burning Vunato Landfill. It is causing smoke to hover on the settlement and Sugar City.

Jitko Sigavitu , 71,said the impact of smoke from the landfill site fires worsened with residents having to breathe in the dust created when garbage trucks travelled at speed on their way to dump rubbish at the landfill.

“Sometimes the smoke thickness causes visibility problems. It even comes into our homes, and we have young children. We have constantly complained because these past few weeks we have just been shutting our windows and doors to stop the smoke from coming in, we did not even receive any masks,” he said.

Joseph Moi, 60, had to shut his windows and doors on Tuesday because he began to experience breathing problems.

“The waste that’s burning include all sorts of chemicals that releases poison into the air through this smoke which the elderly and children breathe,” he said.

Jitko Sigavitu. Photo: Salote Qalubau

Automation Industrial Supplies Limited shop owner Manish Kumar said the outlet was located along Tukani Street and staff were subject to breathing in smoke.

“Our customers get irritated. At times it fills up inside and we have to switch off our fans,” he said.

The Lautoka City Council (LCC) chief executive officer Mohammed Anees Khan said plans were underway to relocate the Vunato Landfill to a location between Nadi and Lautoka to cater for the Western Division.

The Assistant Minister for the Office of the Prime Minister Sakiusa Tubuna has spoken to the Department of Environment regarding the issue.

“They are looking into it and they have called in the LCC and other stakeholders to decide on the best way forward,” he said.

Ministry of Health and Medical Services Permanent Secretary Doctor James Fong said the issue had been forwarded to the divisional medical officer west.

Joseph Moi. Photo: Salote Qalubau

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