Shop owners along Cumming Street in Suva faced an early shutdown yesterday due to the overwhelming odor and overflow of sewage and waste. Manohar Lal, the Managing Director of one of the shops, expressed frustration, stating that this sewage problem has persisted for over three years, worsening during rainy conditions. Despite his efforts to report the issue, he claims that the response from authorities has been inadequate.
Lal highlighted the impact on his business, lamenting, “Who will pay for my losses? This is my only source of income,” and he emphasized that his employees should not have to deal with sewage cleanup, which has also raised health concerns for them.
In response to the situation, Tevita Boseiwaqa, the chief executive of Suva City Council, announced that the matter had been escalated to the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) and assured that he would follow up on it. Boseiwaqa stated that the legal framework limited the Council’s ability to intervene directly, noting their role would be to support WAF.
Dr. Amit Chanan, CEO of WAF, confirmed that the sewage overflow on Cumming Street had been addressed, with teams working late into the night to resolve the issue.
This incident highlights the ongoing struggles faced by local businesses due to infrastructure challenges. It’s encouraging to see that WAF acted quickly to resolve the overflow and that there is a recognition of the need for better communication and coordination between the council and water authorities. Continued vigilance and collaboration among the relevant parties can help prevent such issues in the future and protect the livelihoods of shop owners like Mr. Lal.
In summary, while challenges remain, the prompt action taken by WAF to resolve the sewage problem offers a hopeful outlook for improved management of such issues moving forward.
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