Bimla Raises Water Concerns with PM

Bimla Wati, 76, of Nabatolu, Ba was among the few people who raised the issue of water cartage problems during the Prime Minister’s Consultation in Ba on Thursday. Ms Wati, told Voreqe Bainimarama that she had been facing this problem for the past 76 years. “I was able to go and fetch water for myself when I was young, but now I am aging and now I can’t go to the river I had been using for the past 76 years,” Ms Wati said. She said she would only receive water after she would report the matter to the responsible authorities.

“I live all by myself in the house and I have no one to look after me,” she said.

“I had been facing difficulties for so many years now and I would only receive clean water for drinking once I request for it.” In response, Mr Bainimarama said the Budget had money set aside for rural water projects.

“$7.5 million has been set aside for rural water subsidy to continue and I want Water Authority of Fiji to look into this,” Bainimarama said. He also made provisions to get a water tank for her while the rural water project gets underway in Nabatolu so that five other families could benefit from this. Ms Wati in an interview also mentioned that she was thankful for the provisions for such a scheme in the 2016-2017 budget. “I thank the Government for finally addressing such issues as this was ongoing for the last 76 years and the residents of this village were only using river water which was sometimes contaminated.” Edited by Rusiate Mataika