The Government is also looking at connecting villages to piped water supplies, says Public Works and Transport Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau.
Ro Filipe said while the current policy was prioritising water projects in Tailevu and Ra, he said, in the West, although water mains (pipes) had been laid, they were yet to be connected.
Ro Filipe said there were also areas on Vanua Levu and the maritime islands.
“For example, in Nadroga, the Momi and Natadola areas, the main pipe is on the road, but they are not connected, so, that is one of the main concerns I have also expressed,” he said.
“There have been big tourism projects and developments have happened, but some settlements and villages have been bypassed.
“So, we cannot continue development in this way, which is why we are relooking at these villages and settlements and connecting them now.”
Ro Filipe said some of the projects had not been budgeted for.
“But we will budget for those moving forward. Overall, we are relooking at making a faster delivery in terms of those who are unconnected not only on Viti Levu but also Vanua Levu and those in the maritime islands. So, relooking at especially stand-alone systems and the state of those, much of it has fallen into disrepair while some have not been constructed according to standard.
“And some need to be constructed, so that’s the priority right now.
“I need to discuss that again in terms of budgeting and prioritising those in the upcoming budget but also in the current one which is part of our program.”
