Illegal and legal gravel extraction from the Navua River which has been highlighted for many years to the authorities, is now being raised as a serious concern again by the Suva SUPers.
The Suva SUPers is a collective of Stand Up Paddleboarding enthusiasts with a passion for healthy rivers and waters, and fijivillage News monitors their work closely to highlight the serious environmental concerns that are not being urgently or proactively addressed by the government departments and officials responsible for these areas.
Last month some of the SuvaSUPers visited the Navua River to witness first-hand the impact of the many gravel extraction operations on the river and those who depend on it.
They say some also operate unlicensed, many not in areas where their licence stipulates and there are concerns around a proper Environmental Impact Assessment which takes the whole river into consideration.
12 villages depend on the Navua River for access to medical and other services, and it is also a major tourist attraction.
Climate activist, General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches and Suva SUPers representative, Reverend James Bhagwan says all this is under threat due to gravel extraction - and this includes illegal extraction and extracting from areas not stipulated in the licence.
They say over the years, the course and depth of the river has been altered considerably due to gravel extraction
William Danford, whose family has lived near Navua River for 200 years says their way of life and that of surrounding villagers is under threat due to gravel excavation.
12 villages are located along Navua River
Danford says they have roads in a few places but for other villagers, they use the river to take their produce down and go to the hospital rather than going by road.
Based on the video footage and Danford's explanation, the water level has gone really low upstream as the extraction is making the river deeper downstream.
Since the water level is low, the villagers also have to travel by road which is expensive.
Now, during the dry season, you can see almost all the rocks and a very low level of water upstream.
Danford also pointed out oil leaking into the river through the machinery used for gravel extraction.
A concerned Reverend Bhagwan says there has been no serious Environmental Impact Assessment done for all these areas.
The group and the concerned residents are demanding a proper Environmental Impact Assessment to look at the impacts further downstream and upstream of the Navua River.
Reverend Bhagwan is calling on the government to take some proactive action.
He says the ball is in the court of the authorities now.
fijivillage News has sought comments from the Department of Environment and Minister for Lands, Filimoni Vosarogo.
