Squatters and informal settlements will benefit from development work planned for areas within the Lami to Suva boundaries.

Chairman of the Greater Suva Area Committee Chandu Umaria says the project is pro-poor.

He says plans are also in the pipeline to dredge rivers that run adjacent to these selected settlements to protect their river banks as most are in flood prone areas.

He says settlements like Wailea, Koronivono, Kalekana, Qauia, River Road, Salim St and Bangladesh are some of the few areas already earmarked for the project.

Umaria says this sector of the community has been chosen because they urgently need assistance which they themselves can’t afford.