We are now looking at corporatising the Water Authority of Fiji, as the Asian Development Bank’s report indicates that more than a billion dollars is required to fix the old age pipes and infrastructure.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad highlighted this when he was asked a question on what’s the plan as people haven’t been charged properly for water.
Former WAF CEO Dr Amit Chanan earlier stated that people pay 15 cents for 1,000 litres of water, which is the cheapest in the Pacific.
Professor Prasad says they are taking some decisive actions as over the years water and EFL rates were not increased and for any government to now increase the water rate or even talk about it is very challenging.
He says the bus industry is falling apart because of the similar effects.
The Deputy Prime Minister says they have to invest a significant amount of money now to fix not just the water pipes, it’s going to be tough and they are taking some tough decisions.
Professor Prasad says they may not get the votes for raising water rates, but at some point it has to be done and people should be prepared to pay a higher water rate to be able to get water in their taps or at their businesses without disruption.
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