Nineteen families residing in Vunivacea, Labasa, are facing serious water shortages after the borehole supplying their water dried up due to prolonged dry weather.
Speaking to fijivillage News, resident and farmer Aten Prasad says residents have been forced to rely on wells and rivers as their main sources of water for years, but the prolonged dry weather has now caused their borehole to dry up.
He says residents in the area are struggling to access clean and safe drinking water, as most residents live in hilly areas.
Prasad says the open water sources can easily become contaminated by frogs and other pollutants, affecting residents’ daily activities.
The resident adds that children are also badly affected by the drying up of the borehole, as when they return from school, they have to look for alternative sources of water to bathe and drink.
(Aten Prasad)
He claims the area has not received any major government water project for almost 40 years, including areas from Vatudova Village to Tabia School where more than 1500 people reside.
Prasad says water trucks are also not arriving on time, with residents sometimes having to wait for more than a month for water to be delivered.
He also claims there is not enough water when the trucks arrive, as they bring only about 1,000 litres.
He says this amount is not enough to meet the needs of the affected families and is calling on the Government to assist by drilling a new borehole in the area.
He says residents have already installed their water pipes but are awaiting assistance with the construction of a new borehole.
HINDI INSERT: Prasad on dry season 13th Sept
Prasad says his sick sister is also affected by the ongoing water shortage.
He says they cut sugarcane during the dry season, and because it is a mountainous area, the work is very difficult.
He is urging the Government to visit the area immediately and work with residents to find a long-term solution to their water problems.
