Religious debris dumped in river concerns Lautoka City Council

The Lautoka City Council has raised concerns after religious and ritual debris, including plastic items and prayer materials, was found blocking the flow of a river beneath a bridge at Qaliwalu Settlement in Lautoka.

Acting chief executive officer Taitusi Rasoki was responding to concerns raised by resident Sant Lal, who reported that large amounts of rubbish had been dumped along the riverbank.

Mr Lal, a 71-year-old security officer, said he was shocked by the amount of waste he discovered a few days ago.

"What concerned me most was finding FNPF lift-outs and a large number of Joint Card identification cards scattered along the riverbank," he said.

"I collected most of the Joint Card IDs and took them to the FNPF office in Lautoka, but they told me the cards did not belong to them."

Mr Lal said he reported the matter to the Lautoka City Council last week before taking the identification cards to the FNPF office.

Mr Rasoki confirmed the council had received the complaint and immediately assigned a team to inspect the site.

"We attended to the issue today and found rubbish in the river that was obstructing the natural flow of water," he said.

"What concerns me most is that many of the items being discarded are religious and ritual debris, including plastic items, prayer materials and other religious items.

"These materials are blocking the flow of the river, and we need to find a way to address this issue."

Mr Rasoki said responsibility for waterways rested with the Waterways Department. However, the council took the initiative to remove the debris to restore the flow of water and reduce the risk of flooding.

"Our team attended to the site and cleared the rubbish, including clay and other Hindu religious items that had been discarded in the river," he said.

The council is urging members of the public to dispose of religious offerings and other waste responsibly to protect waterways and prevent blockages that could contribute to flooding.