11th March, 2019 TONGAN The coastal protection currently constructed in Manuka and Navutoka is expected to be completed by March 31st 2019.
The activity is funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) through the Climate Change Resilience Sector Project (CRSP) under the Ministry of MEIDECC. The total cost of the construction is estimated at USD$1.9 million.
The protection is from Navutoka to Manuka is about 2 kilometers long and 2.3 meter above sea level.
Project Coordinator Mr. Winston Halapua said both communities are one of the most vulnerable villages in Tonga when it comes to sea level rise and land erosion.
He said that the Executive Director of ADB Mr. Syurkani Ishak Kasim visited the site during his official visit last week.
CRSP Activities
Climate Resilience Sector Project (CRSP) is one of the major projects in Tonga implemented to mitigate the impact of climate change faced by vulnerable communities across the country.
Majority of the activities have been completed including four evacuation roads in ‘Eua, Popua, Navutoka and Talafo’ou and the constructions of classrooms in Ngele’ia Government Primary School, Hala’ovave, Kolomotu’a, Lavengamālie and Tonga Side School.
Eight Automatic Weather Station (AWS) is currently installed in Tongatapu to help the Meteorology Department enhance its data collection, weather, tsunami and climate data monitoring, severe weather watch and warnings across Tonga land areas and all of its coastal waters. Similar stations will be installed in the outer islands. Two of them have been installed in the Niuas last year.
Climate Change Trust Fund (CCTF) is at its phase two now. The first phase completed last year with 33 successful applications from communities throughout Tonga.
Meanwhile the new hospital for Ha’apai is expected to be completed in June this year.
ENDS
Issued by the: Ministry of Meteorology, Energy, Information, Disaster Management, Environment, Climate Change & Communications.