Yavala water plight to be looked at
Ateacher’s urgent request for checks to be made on the water problems faced by more than 100 people at Yalava, Labasa, was immediately attended to by the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Sakiasi Ditoka. Mr Ditoka toured the North for three days last week.
During a talanoa session with the people of Tabia, Labasa last Thursday, Mohammed Feroz, a teacher of Seaqaqa Central College informed Mr Ditoka about the water problems he faced along with 19 households in Yalava.
He pleaded with Mr Ditoka to take time to visit Yalava because their request for a proper water supply had been unattended to for decades.
“A few years ago, the Macuata Muslim League received donations from someone overseas and constructed two boreholes in our area,” Mr Feroz said.
“One borehole has dried up while the other has water supply to cater
for one household.”
He said some people used water from a well or the nearby creek. “Some of the households have babies and during rain the wells get dirty,” said the father of two.
“So we have to drink water from the nearby creek and those who have money go to Labasa Town to buy bottled water.”
Another resident Daya Prasad told Mr Ditoka that in the 35 years he’s lived in Yalava, the water problem was ongoing.
“While towns continue to develop in our country, people in rural areas such as Yalava suffer, especially deprived of basic needs,” Mr Prasad claimed.
“Many people in this area are ei
ther rice or sugarcane farmers or labourers. They run away from here because of water problems.” Despite the numerous challenges in life, the 68-year-old grandfather said he continued to live with his eight family members.
Mr Ditoka promised Mr Feroz and Mr Prasad that he would visit Yalava even though it was not in his
itinerary.
Upon visiting Yavala, Mr Ditoka met residents and instructed the Commissioner Northern Uraia Rainima to attend to their request. He assured them that his office would liaise with the Department of Mineral Resources to see how their water problem could be solved.