$300,000 allocated for carting water for rural communities during prolonged dry period

The Minister for Rural and Maritime Development Inia Seruiratu says the $300,000 which has been allocated for emergency water supplies in the revised budget is for water carting in the rural communities during prolonged dry periods.

Seruiratu highlighted this when questioned by Government MP Rohit Sharma in parliament if he can provide an update on the utilisation of the budgetary allocation for Emergency Water Supplies.

He says in the current financial year they have used about 29% of the $300,000 allocation which is around $87,000.

He says they had about 30,000 litres of water carted by the Ministry of Rural Development through the NDMO tanks and about 45,000 litres carted by the Water Authority of Fiji as they service these areas almost every fortnight.

Seruiratu says these areas include Vunibokoi District School, Namara District school, Namara and Verata Nursing Station, and the villages of Naisogovau, Navakacau, Waikete, Daku, Vanuadina, Naqeledamu and Muanaira.

He says the other areas include Waica in Rewa, Delai-Veisari, Wailekutu, Vunidawa government quarters, Baulevu, Nakoba, Navutulevu, Naqara Island, Malolo and Kia Island.