Incident in Tamavua should not be condoned, is caused by human stupidity, and carelessness – Ro Filipe

Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau says incidents such as the one that occurred along Princes Road in Tamavua should never be condoned, and human stupidity, ignorance, and carelessness were the cause of the incident.

Thousands of people living in the Tamavua, Samabula, Mead Road, Nabua, Waimanu Road, Walu Bay and Lami areas are facing water cuts after a contractor working for another organisation conducted Horizontal Directional Drilling and damaged the 600mm main line which provides water supply to these areas.

Ro Filipe says there are a lot of challenges facing water, including the ageing infrastructure, climate change and having redundant systems.

He says all these challenges are documented in the 2050 Water Strategy.

While discussing the issue regarding the damaged pipeline in Tamavua, Ro Filipe says he has asked the Water Authority Board and the executives, and also the entities in his Ministry what is the procedure in terms of these contractors.

He says the Fiji Roads Authority and the Water Authority of Fiji should monitor the contractors' works.

He adds such actions from contractors should not be condoned, and he has asked them to also look at reporting the contractor for property damage.

Meanwhile, WAF Chief Operating Officer Seru Soderberg says the works on the 600mm line on Princes Road should be completed by tomorrow morning.

The damaged burst main also caused water cuts to 38 schools within the Suva to Lami area.

The affected areas include residents living in: - Tip Top: Ratu Mara Rd, Milo Shop - Raiwasa, Shalimar Street, Bidesi, Lewadua, Dilio, Gaji Road, Beddoes, Karan Singh, Koroi, Lagilagi Housing, Falvey, Udit Narayan Street and Aidney Road.

- Rewa Street: Kikau, Talasiga, Sese, Dhanji, Ruve Street, Lekutu Street, Buksh Street, Borron Road, Howell Road, Silimaibau, Akuila Bale, Rose, Armstrong, Alexander, Milverton, George Place, Upper Nairai, Bryce, Raisara, Cheng Place, McFarlane, Wilkinson Street, Hunter, Laucala Bay, Ratu Sukuna Road, Bau Street, Serua, Carew, Short Le Hunte, Knolly St, Marion, Dilio Street, Belo Street, Kula Street, Kaka Street, Karan Singh Road, Beddoes Street, Moti Street, Tawake Street, Matanitobua Road, Ritova Street, Kini Street, Brown Street, Augustus Street and Nailuva Road.

Waimanu Road: 15 A & 15B: Waimanu Rd, Boro, Toganivalu, Sawani, Mal Street and Extension Street.

- Mead Road: Bayview Heights, Nabua, Sukanaivalu Road, Sawau Street, Yohann Place, Vuibau Place, Sam Lal Street, Paul Sloan Street, Joyce Perks Street, Nabua Top Line, March Place, Maddocks Street, Nabua Road, Lavena Road, Pikeu Street, Finau Street, Nabua Town, Volavola Road and Evetts Place

- Samabula: Bureta Street, Tuvana Place, Tubou Street, Lakeba Street, Helsen Street, Komo Street, Aiwa Street, Naiyau Street, Sovu Place, Kabara Street, Fulaga Street, Namuka Street, Ono Street, Moala Street, Vatoa Street, Munia Street, Totoya Street.

- Walu Bay: Foster Road, Eliza Street, Syria Road, Rona Street, Sonoma Street, Leonidas Street, Argo Street, Matua Street, Amra Street, Tofua Street, Rokobili, Tamavua Road, Reservoir Road, Mavoa Road, Mali Place, Saint Giles Hospital, Uluvatu Road, Nauluvatu, Kasavu Road.

- Lami: Wailada Subdivision, Nukuatu Street, Vetaia Street, Lami Town, Nasevou Street, Labiko Street, Powell Crescent, Nakula Street, Naimawi Street, Waimate Street, Waivote Street, Qauia Street.

- Marine Drive: Ragunath Drive, Vatuvia Street, Qelea Road.

Affected schools include Samabula Primary School, Fiji National University - Samabula Campus, Suva Primary School, Gospel Primary School, Gospel High School, Suva Sangam School, Jay Narayan School, Indra Gandhi Primary School, Marist Brothers High School, Yat Sen Secondary School, Holy Trinity School, University of Fiji - Samabula School, Arya Samaj Primary School, Marist Primary School, Neru Primary School, Hilton Special School, LDS Primary School, Fiji School of Nursing, Tamavua Primary, Jack and Jill, Nabua Primary School, Nabua Secondary School, Suva Muslim Primary, Suva Muslim Secondary, Polytech Institute, Saint Agnes Primary School and Ratu Sukuna Memorial School, Navesi Primary School, Isa Lei Secondary School, Lami SDA School - Suvavou, Lami Primary and Lami High School, Lami Convent Primary School, Chauhan Memorial School, Waiqanake Primary School, Monfort Boys Town, Saint Thomas Aquinas Primary School and Ballentine Memorial School – Delainavesi.

For some of the areas affected, they have had no water since Monday.