Transport Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau says water from the Viria Water Treatment Plant is “flowing”, contrary to miscommunication and misinformation surrounding the project.
In Parliament last week, FijiFirst MP Jone Usamate criticised the Government for the Viria project, which he said had not started distributing water.
“The minister says water from Viria is flowing, but complaints abound,” Mr Usamate said.
“Why then are people complaining of no water in Wakanisila, where we have always had water and all over the Suva peninsula?”
In response, Mr Tuisawau said Government was still engaging with the vanua of Viria to iron out outstanding issues.
“Some (things), Government is OK with it in terms of connecting water and also the roads, and it’s just a matter of us prioritising and budgeting for it in a way which is sustainable,” he said.
“But the other issues in terms of development contribution, that’s what we are discussing.”
He also read out an update from the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF), which stated that the trial operation, including chlorine probe verification, was carried out and concluded on January 26. In addition, 34 million litres per day was being successfully produced and introduced into the supply network.
“A plant can produce the full design 40 million litres a day. And a trial operation phase was at the last stage of commissioning; the contractor will soon be able to receive a commissioning certificate.
“So that’s the process that’s currently underway. And this involves the submission development of the operation and maintenance manual built in drawings and other required documents.
“This is the technical commissioning. FijiFirst is focusing on the opening ceremony, being garlanded and all that. That’s not our concern.
“Our concern is the technical commissioning, which we will be focusing on so everything is on track.”
