The $1.3 million project for Nakauvadra river channel improvement works in Rakiraki has been completed.

Minister for Waterways Dr Mahendra Reddy says the project began in June last year and has already stopped flooding in the Ra province’s main business center.

Dr Reddy says large volumes of sediments were removed from the elevated river bed of the Nakauvadra creek, to increase the discharge capacity of the river.

“I am urging all community members not to discharge waste in our waterways. It has a lot of negative impact on our downstream and it also impacts the future generation.”

Dr Reddy says the works included cleaning and disposal of debris, mainly tree trunks at approximately 16 places along the lower reaches of the Nakauvandra River and resectioning of the river channel.