About 20,000 residents in the greater Labasa area could be without water by the end of this week after a landowning clan threatened to shut down a key water source over unresolved lease and payment issues spanning decades.
The warning was issued by the Nabukarabe clan of Nakama Village, which said it would close the Nasarava water source unless authorities urgently addressed long-standing concerns.
“On March 5 last year, the Water Authority of Fiji conducted a valuation exercise and confirmed that the water source has not been properly leased for over 70 years,” the clan said in a statement.
“To close the water source is not the preferred outcome, but it is a step the clan is prepared to take unless a meaningful response and concrete payment arrangements are received.”
The clan said they held a meeting with relevant authorities last year, including the iTaukei Land Trust Board, to discuss the back payment of land leases dating back to 1951, which was to be disbursed within four weeks.
To date, however, they still have not received any payment.
In response, TLTB chief executive officer Solomone Nata said they are finalising a long-term lease agreement with WAF and hope to conclude the process by the end of this month.
However, questions sent to WAF chief executive officer Seru Soderberg and its media officer Peni Shute remained unanswered when this edition went to print.
