A Divisional Taskforce has been activated in the western division as a result of the prolonged dry spell which is currently being experienced in the country.
Headed by the Commissioner Western Division Manasa Tagicakibau, the taskforce is focused on ensuring minimal disruptions to services especially water in the homes of Fijians in the division.
Speaking to heads of departments in the division at a meeting this morning, Mr Tagicakibau highlighted the work which started last week.
“Currently water carting has already begun and we are currently carting water to people in the Yasawa Group, the Mamanuca Group and also to some communities in the division,” he said.
“There are 10 districts that are being assisted through water carting and this includes 3, 964 homes and five schools.”
The meeting was also an opportunity for key government agencies such as the health, education, sugar, police, provincial development, agriculture, water authority, Fiji Electricity Authority, Fiji Metrological Services and Women among others to highlight contingency plans that they already had in place.
Divisional agriculture head, Vinay Kumar said the Ministry has rotated 70 pumps to various farms to assist in mitigation efforts as close to 70 subsistence farmers had been affected due to the dry conditions and low water levels
Mr Tagicakibau said the FEA has recorded dam levels at Monasavu dams to be at 735, 500. The critical level for Monasavu is at 715, 000 indicating that levels are currently healthy.
“FEA has also purchased a 40MW generator as standby should the need arise,” Mr Tagicakibau added.
“As for WAF, all dams around the country have been reported healthy levels.”