“We are glad that we are now starting to see government’s promises bearing fruit in this village,” he said.
Minister for Public works, Meteorological Services, and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawau (third from left), with villagers after officiating the installation of the new Pilot project at Nakini Village, Naitasiri, on September 6, 2023. Photo: Beranadeta Nagatalevu
Villagers of Nakini in Naitasiri Province can now enjoy clean and safe drinking water.
A new pilot project conducted by the Government allows them to do so.
Nakini Village turaga ni koro (headman), Eroni Koroiwaca, expressed his gratitude yesterday.
He said this was the first of many promises by Government that was fulfilled.
“We are glad that we are now starting to see government’s promises bearing fruit in this village,” he said.
Better regular water supply
The newly-installed solar water pumps will provide better regular water supply to 40 households which, according to the Village headman, numbered to about 186 people.
“The new solar pumps offer a better, clean water supply and saves the women of this village so much time and energy of fetching water from afar,” he said.
Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services, and Transport, Ro Filipe Tuisawau commissioned the project yesterday, saying renewable energy was the new way forward.
“If you look at the system, it’s a good model because there’s a purification system that comes up to the tap that is, pumping, purification then tap,” he said.
Minister for Public works, Meteorological Services, and Transport Ro Filipe Tuisawauafter officiating the installation of the new Pilot project at Nakini Village, Naitasiri, on September 6, 2023. Photo: Beranadeta Nagatalevu
$171,000 was allocated for the project.
“We are also looking within the ministry for climate funding to finance solar powered pumps into the communities,” he said.
“This is going to be the way forward in providing clean safe drinking water.
“After six months, I’m going to ask WAF (Water Authority of Fiji), to do assessment on the pilot project here and if we could replicate it across Fiji in terms of extracting water through solar.
Ro Filipe has urged the village to form a committee that will carefully monitor the water bill as well as its maintenance.
“Because this will help them in the long run and it saves them from future problems like payment of bills and such.”
The village are satisfied and remain hopeful for more government involvement in the future.
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