Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says plans are underway to relocate towns, settlements and villages that are always vulnerable to flooding.

However Bainimarama says it will cost the government a lot of money.

“We cannot afford to pay for all the relocation of villages and towns; I guess they (people) have to do it on their own.”

He adds the cost of prevention measures taken to reduce flooding effects have more than doubled.

“The river diversion scheme I understand was put together by JICA some years back but we could not afford, because it’s very expensive. Last I heard was $100 million now its $200 million.”

China has offered to send a team to look into plans for river diversion and also the flood plan for the Nadi basin.