Worries

Pollution Risk

The Fijians

Fiji is becoming more pollution conscious. Though not nearly enough.

It’s to be hoped that Government approval for all new industrial developments—such as the latest, on the banks of the Lami River, right an Suva’s doorstep—also carries with it stringent restrictions relating to effluent.

The new development, called Wailada Industrial Estate, is a project of Industrial Development (South Pacific) Ltd., for which Robbins Holdings Ltd. are the development consultants. Work is due to start on the estate and applications are already being received for lots.

More than a dozen factory sites actually front the river, which runs nto Suva Harbour. So effluent must oe a big question in the minds of peals, particularly those who gather ood from the harbour and surround ng reefs.

PIM isn’t saying that pollution estrictions don’t exist at Wailada or

)ther industrial developments. We’re

ust pointing out that today’s decision nakers will have much to answer for ?..., ure years if this vital aspect of ■uji’s growth is neglected.

At least one Fiji politician is con :erned about the long-term effect of he government-backed oil refinery— t $lO million project—which is pro >osed for Vuda Point, near Lautoka, Ratu Josua Toganivalu, an Alliance Member of the House of Represen atives, has written to the Minister or Commerce and Industry, Mr. /ijay R. Singh, claiming that waste lischarged into the sea will kill narme life.

Along with his protest about a Jotential danger comes very real widence of actual pollution. Mainly n Suva Harbour.

There are frequent tales of liners lumpmg garbage at the entrance to he reef, without regard to the run u the tide. No one, of course, will idmit it—though a score of people lave seen it happen. Experts have iredicted that because of neglect, gnorance and pure commercial ex portation, the harbour will be un afe for any living thing in a decade —or less. Sharks, they say, will be hick in both the harbour itself and he nearby river mouth.

A terrifying prospect indeed. And vho will be to blame?