Reddy Looks Into Water Contamination
"The matter was raised during his consultative visit to Vusu in Nadroga on Friday, where farmer, Shahgul said nearby prawn fishers were using chemicals that had consequently affected livestock."
Sunday 10 March 2019 | 16:40
Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment Mahendra Reddy and senior agriculture officers with goat and cattle farmer, Shah Gul, in Vusu, Nadroga. Photo: DEPTFO News
Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment Mahendra Reddy says he will look into prosecuting those found to be contaminating water sources by use of chemicals.
The matter was raised during his consultative visit to Vusu in Nadroga on Friday, where farmer, Shahgul said nearby prawn fishers were using chemicals that had consequently affected livestock.
“We’ll have to start dealing with people who are contaminating our waterways and for that we will have to undertake the testing of water samples to demonstrate that it is contaminated and we’ll have to catch people and have evidence that they have contaminated it,” Mr Reddy said.
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“The other issue of them contaminating water that is consumed by the animals and they lose the stock – that will have to be dealt with in a number of ways; tell people not to trespass on property and second, if they do it upstream it again causes a problem so we’ll have to start charging them for trespassing.
“We’ll have to start charging them separately for contaminating water by use of chemicals.”
Mr Reddy also consulted farmers in Yalavou and Keiyasi.
Source: DEPTFO News
