The Agriculture Ministry has assured business houses in Nadi that plans to dredge the Nadi River are currently underway.
The Principal Agriculture Officer Information and Communication Kamlesh Prakash said tenders for the second phase of works will be called soon, while the third phase of Nadi River dredging will begin next year.
Prakash's comments come after the Nadi Chamber of Commerce called on the interim government to continue dredging the river and complete it as soon as possible.
The Chamber had also asked for the diversion of the river.
Prakash said the Ministry's Land and Water Resources Management Division has studied the recommendations and had proposed alternatives such as the realignment of the Nadi River to reduce flood levels and improve the flood flow path.
He added that the sea level rise due to global warming and increased obstacles in the flood flow path contributes to the flood problems.
Prakash said people need to know that river dredging will not stop the flood problem as it only a part of the solution.
Over 200,000 tonnes of sugarcane have been damaged in the recent floods.
