The Fijian government will allocate 6 million Fijian dollars (3.1 million U.S. dollars) from its 2010 Budget toward flood protection works to reduce flood damages of agricultural crops, buildings, towns and villages.
Major projects that will be implemented through these funds include dredging of the Nadi, Labasa and Wailevu Rivers in Vanua Levu and the Rewa River in the Central Division as this is a major cause of disaster for farmers in the island nation.
This will also cover the rehabilitation of the Mulomulo Dam and construction of a new dam in the Nadi Watershed as well as the repair of the river bank protection works at Nawaqarua Village in Ba.
Fiji's Ministry of Primary Industries said that tackling flooding in the Nadi River basin is an immediate issue due to its social, economic and environmental impacts.
"Nadi is one of the two largest population centers in Fiji with thriving economic activities that revolve around agriculture, tourism and sugar," said the ministry in a statement on Monday.
The recent floods caused significant damages to property and infrastructure as well as disrupting economic activity and affecting lives of communities in the area.
"The government's commitment is to provide investor confidence and to improve the socio-economic status of the area and this is heavily dependent on reducing the risk and vulnerability to floods," it added.
Threats of floods are always a concern to those living on river flats and low lying areas whenever there is heavy downpour or a cyclone.
The objective of the flood mitigation program is to provide protective measures that will reduce the incidence of floods and its damaging impact.
The Fijian government has completed the first and second phase dredging of the Nadi River and the aim this year is to complete the third phase.
First phase of the project was implemented in 2008 where a total of 1.8 km of the river mouth was excavated to remove 365,000 cubic meters of sediment.
The second phase of inland works was carried out last year which involved the dredging of 1.5 km from Moala Village upstream and removed 410,000 cubic meters of sediment."
The third phase will involve the dredging of 3.5 km to remove 450,000 cubic meters of sediment.
The work will be outsourced to a private contractor and the villages along the riverbanks will benefit from improved and additional land made available for development and employment opportunities.
Frequent flooding of the Rewa River has damaged properties, agricultural crops, affected livestock, disrupted business, communication, transportation, and water supply and adversely impacted rural dwellers.