In the upcoming budget, $259.4 million will be allocated to the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) for sustainable operation and investment.
WAF has relied on government grants for the past decade, which has made it challenging to plan large expenses or borrow money for investment. The government is launching a major project to install 1,700 water supply boreholes across the country.
The Deputy Prime Minister has allocated $5.7 million to the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources and established a task force in collaboration with the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development, the Water Authority of Fiji, the Ministry of Public Works, and the Ministry of Finance.
Additionally, $2.7 million is earmarked for the Drainage Board to maintain existing drainage systems and improve water management practices.
The Ministry of Waterways will receive an extra $17.6 million in capital budget, while the Ministry of Sugar will receive $5.5 million for drainage works. The government plans to acquire specialized drainage and heavy-duty dredging equipment for all major rivers and inland drainage systems.
The Fiji Roads Authority is set to receive $354.8 million for the ongoing construction and maintenance of roads, bridge and jetty upgrades, and rural road improvements. A national study on urban traffic is also in progress.
The Public Works Department, with increased funding of $8 million, will focus on rural roads and public buildings. Overall, the Ministry of Public Works has been allocated $721.4 million.
