K15mil water project in Kundiawa to start this year: Maru

NATIONAL Planning Minister Richard Maru told Parliament on Friday that the long-awaited K15 million water supply project for Kundiawa town would start this year.
Maru said, in response to questions by Kundiawa-Gembogl MP William Onglo concerning the ongoing water problems in the township, Water PNG had completed the design to restore water service to Kundiawa.
According to Onglo, Kundiawa had been without a proper water supply for about 18 years and over the last two years he had followed up the matter with Water PNG.
“We are having big water problems in Kundiawa affecting business houses and the largest referral hospital that services the whole of the Highlands and parts of the Momase region.
“This town is a health hazard and it should have been closed long time ago because it is unhygienic and it’s a daily struggle for the people,” Onglo said. Maru said it would cost the state K15 million to fully restore a water supply in Kundiawa and to ensure landowners were compensated.
“The landowners’ problems had resulted in the delay as previous money given was basically picked up by one person and he went into hiding.”