Fiji Times, 4th June 2018
DIGGING drains is not the answer to addressing the flooding problem around the country. Minister for Waterways Dr Mahendra Reddy says flooding, or waterlogging of low-lying areas and overflowing of rivers and creeks were generally associated with excessive rainfall induced runoff which were beyond conveyance capacity of drains and rivers.
Dr Reddy said in Fiji, the high intensity rainfall coupled with catchments activities and physical characteristics of the country’s catchments (slopes) contributed to damaging floods.
“Questions have been raised as to why our conveyance system are over spilling now more than before and the reasons are several but one of them is due to climate change, the intensity and frequency of rain which has increased significantly over the last three decades,” he said.