THE Government is facing a backlog of 800 applications for borehole construction from communities across Fiji as prolonged dry weather continues to place pressure on the country’s water supply.
Mineral Resources Minister Filimoni Vosarogo said the applications had been received by the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development (MRD) over several years.
He said about 180 boreholes had been completed, while another 69 had been drilled but failed to provide sufficient water.
The figures were provided during a briefing by the ministry, which is responsible for processing borehole applications and assisting communities with their water needs.
Mr Vosarogo said the 800 applications were requests for new borehole construction in different parts of the country. He said the unsuccessful boreholes highlighted the challenges involved in identifying underground water sources capable of supplying sufficient water to communities.
He added that drilling a borehole did not always guarantee a reliable water supply, as some locations lacked adequate underground water. The ministry was continuing to work towards addressing the requests submitted by communities. The backlog comes as communities across the country face increasing pressure on their water supplies due to prolonged dry weather and ongoing water cuts.
He said he would provide details from the ministry’s briefing, including figures on the borehole work completed so far.
