A new source of water used by a local community is to be developed in the interior of Ba by the Water Authority of Fiji.

The new source was revealed to the Minister for Local Government, Housing, Environment, Infrastructure and Transport, Parveen Bala during a meeting with cane farmers in Navoli, in the interior of Ba yesterday.

Rajnesh Kumar, a farmer from Waivuka, further inland from Navoli told Mr Bala that the residents in that area had built a small catchment for water and from which they drew water for drinking, washing and cleaning purposes.

Mr Kumar had requested that WAF check the water to see whether it was safe.

Mr Bala made further enquiries and it was soon established that the source came from the hills.

Farmers at the meeting said the water source never ran dry and flowed continuously every day of the year.

Mr Bala immediately instructed WAF to check the source today and build a proper catchment area so that water could be piped to all nine houses in the area and to look at extending the supply to other areas nearby which did not have water.

Meanwhile more than 50 farmers from the rural community had an opportunity to talk with Mr Bala on roads, drainage, electricity and water problems in their area.

Jagdish Chand, a farmer and also manager of Navoli Sanatan Primary School, had queried about the tar sealing of most roads in the area.

Mr Bala told the farmers the only roads that would be tar sealed, and which was being done around Fiji was the road in front of schools.

“This road in front of the school will be tar sealed as it is what we are doing with all schools,” he said.

Panapasa Rasakisaki, a farm labourer had come regarding water connections, and left a happy man after WAF had advised him on the latest development.

Edited by Rusiate Mataika

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