DREDGING at the Vutia River mouth in Rewa is a concern for many living at Vutia district.
Residents have also raised their concern on how they lost crops and marine resources had depleted after the dredging of the river mouth.
Vutia district representative Ravuama Lalanabaravi said many of their people relied on their farm and marine resources for their livelihood and to earn a living.
But since the dredging last year, he said they had not been able to plant and sell their crops.
"The dredging of the river mouth was beneficial at first since it stopped flooding within the district.
"Now, it has completely destroyed the farms beside the river," Mr Lalanabaravi said.
"There is good soil beside the river mouth and most people from the district plant their crops there but now nothing can survive as a massive amount of sand is piled on the river bank," he said.
"We have raised the issue with the right authorities and people have come to inspect the area but there has been no response on the progress after the inspection," he said.
Commissioner Central Lieutenant Colonel Laisenia Tuitubou said such development projects tend to have advantages and disadvantages.
However, he said the government tried its best to mitigate such issues.