Water cut leaves schools, homes without supply in Tabia

Two schools, 66 households, a mosque and a temple in Tabia have been without water since last Thursday after the Makomako Mataqali in Labasa closed access to a mountain water source.

Residents approached for comment yesterday declined to be interviewed, saying they feared possible repercussions, including damage to their property or contamination of their water catchment.

The schools affected are Tabia Sanatan Dharm Primary School and Tabia Sanatan College.

Makomako Turaga ni Mataqali Vilimone Rogoiwaqa confirmed the mataqali had closed the water source, claiming residents and the Tabia Water Committee had failed to comply with an agreement reached last year.

Mr Rogoiwaqa said a meeting was held in November 2025, during which the committee was advised that each household would be required to pay $300 for using the water source free of charge for the previous six years.

“We also advised them to clear this $300 in January this year and for each household to start paying a levy of $50 for water every year forward,” Mr Rogoiwaqa said.

“We advised them that water would remain free for both schools.”

He claimed no payment had been made by the committee.

“We waited from January until June 18. Since no payment was made to the mataqali, we closed the water source last Thursday which also include access to schools,” he said.

“We want the money because people have been using the water source for free since 2015, and the funds collected will be used for village development.”

Tabia Water Committee president Faiyaz Khan disputed the claims, saying there was no written agreement requiring residents to pay the levy.

“As far as I know proper communication wasn’t done by the Water Authority of Fiji, land lease was not obtained before the catchment was built and nothing is in written which states that the residents have to pay the Mataqali levy for using the water,” Mr Khan said.

“Residents are already affected by fuel crisis and many are sugarcane farmers; no one wants to take the risk to pay without proper receipt been issued.”

Mr Khan said funds collected from residents and schools over the years had been used by the committee to maintain the catchment and carry out repair works.

Former Tabia Water Committee president Jitendra Lal said the community had contributed significantly towards the project when it was established.

“The residents paid $15,000, Labasa Cane Producers Association contributed $10,000 and the rest was paid by the Government,” Mr Lal said.

He said the first closure of the water source occurred in 2017.

“The first time the mataqali closed the water source was in 2017, and we sought help from the FijiFirst Government.

“Immediately, a police report was made by the committee and then Government acted ordering the Mataqali to open water for everyone including the schools as it didn’t want students to miss classes.”

Mr Lal said the Macuata Provincial Office had recently advised the committee to pay the outstanding $300 and the annual $50 levy following discussions on the matter.

Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Mosese Bulitavu said he had liaised with officials in Labasa and had been advised by the Provincial Administrator Macuata that a meeting would be held in Tabia at 7pm today to discuss possible solutions.

The Water Authority of Fiji was contacted for comment, but a response had not been received when this edition went to press.