The Energy Fiji Limited has revealed that an environmental impact study was conducted before the Wainisavulevu Weir Rising Project in Nadarivatu was approved and undertaken in 2015.

This is in response to a Fiji Times article published on Saturday where it was claimed by an Environment group that there was no EIS done.

Chair Dakshesh Patel says the reports are not true and proper procedures were followed contrary to what was reported by the newspaper.

“I reiterate that there was consultation taken, they were consultation taken. The landowners were given full consultation without their consultations, without their approvals we could not have leased the land.”

Patel also pointed out that landowners never in the past had any issues with the project.

“There people rising these issues now when they could have actually raised all these matters and all these concerns at the time of the construction of the dam. If they were so aware of the environmental impact, damages and subsequently effects of building such a dam, if they were so conscious of the environment then they could have raised these issues in public but they kept quiet. They silence is in fact expectance.”

Patel adds EFL will continue to connect Fijians to the National grid and better its services.