Paipai Community Members Make Temporary Crossing

Various community members of Paipai, Lautoka took the initiative to make a temporary crossing on February 6, to ensure their children were able to attend school.

The initial Irish Deo Karan Road crossing was damaged during the Tropical Cyclone Cody struck earlier this year.

Deo Karan Road Committee President Aman Chandra said the crossing was built with stems, timbers, tree branches which were cut using a chainsaw and fastened together tightly.

“The stakeholders did come to the site, but still no formal response. It took one whole day for the construction of the temporary crossing by members of the road committee; since the crossing was built 20 students, 15 workers including civil servants and farmers have used it,” Mr Chandra said.

He said community members urgently looked forward to the possibility of construction of a permanent crossing.

“We are facing difficulties in transporting our crops to the market, the temporary crossing is risky if in case any child pushes another child, he or she may fall down and get severe injuries or even drown,” he said.

The Ministry of Sugar Director Operations Sugar Sanjay Kumar said a holistic detailed assessment of every cane crossing in cane belt areas was being done and a comment could be made on the next course of action once the assessment was complete.