‘Water vital for growth’

 By SONIA KENU

WATER Cooperation is one of the keys to security, poverty eradication, social equity and gender equality, United Nations resident coordinator Stuart Watson says. 

Watson shared UN’s vision on the importance of Water Corporation in this year’s theme for World Water Day, which was commemorated last Friday at the PNG Institute of Public Administration in Waigani.

He told students, staff of Eda Ranu and Water PNG, members of the media and individuals that water cooperation was one of the foundations for peace and sustainable development. 

“We must work together to protect and carefully manage this fragile, finite resource,” he said. 

Eda Ranu chief executive officer Henry Mokono said the theme had challenged him as Port Moresby was a growing city with a diverse population of more than 400,000, and to meet the needs of every individual, community and settlement was indeed a frightening task if attempted alone. 

Mokono said due to current changes in the management, Eda Ranu would now be operated by Papua New Guineans and he assured the people that this would not affect the services.   

“The treatment plant and other services will be managed by Papua New Guineans for the people of Papua New Guinea,” he said. 

Grade 12 student of Marianville Secondary School, Lyean Nants, who spoke on behalf of students, said the people of Port Moresby should appreciate the water service that was provided and it should be used wisely. 

“Many of us tend to irrigate our crops at the wrong time. After a hot sunny day, we give lots of water to our crops and we do not realise that much of the water has evaporated due to the amount of heat from the sun,” she said.  

“We must appreciate the availability of water at the turn of a tap and learn to preserve water.”