Praneeta Prakash 
[Photo: FILE]
Public Works Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau warns that dry conditions in the Western Division are expected to worsen, urging households and businesses to conserve water and prepare for prolonged shortages.
Speaking from Vaturu Dam after three days assessing the situation in the West, Ro Filipe said falling water levels remain a serious concern for the Nadi and Lautoka supply areas.
He says weather forecasts indicate the dry spell could continue through December and possibly into January.
Ro Filipe says continuous assessments are being carried out at the dam, while other water sources have also dried up.
“So we really need to be prepared. Not only here, but other water sources have also dried up, and the government is organizing assistance packages. Water Authority continues to deliver water, and the National Disaster Risk Management Office is coordinating the whole-of-government response as we move forward. This is a very critical situation as we move forward, and we are hoping that the water level will rise, but given the situation and the weather forecast, the situation will not improve.”
Ro Filipe is calling businesses, hotels, and the wider public to prepare for continued dry weather, stressing the need to conserve water and store it safely.
