The Minister for Housing and Local Government, Maciu Nalumisa, has confirmed that a stop-work order has been issued on a significant construction project in Ba. The Grace Road project is situated on a floodplain that is designed to allow floodwaters to drain toward the sea.
During a Parliament session on Monday, Mr. Nalumisa stated that he received complaints from local residents in Ba concerning the project located at the Lautoka end of the Ba bridge.
“I have just issued a stop-construction order for the development by Grace Road in Yalalevu, Ba. I must express my gratitude to Honourable (Parveen) Bala for bringing this to my attention,” he noted, emphasizing that the project requires a thorough environmental impact assessment (EIA).
He explained that when the ministry evaluates development applications, considerations include water flow, as well as the connectivity of drainage systems that lead to major rivers.
“These are critical infrastructural challenges that we take into account, particularly when the Town and Country Planning and the council conduct their assessments. It is essential that all of these considerations are addressed and maintained to prevent any developments from proceeding without the necessary evaluations. Failing to do so could result in increased disaster risks and complications during future flooding events.”