Kainantu gets water supply

National, Normal

PNG Waterboard (PNGWB) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for Kainantu water supply with the Eastern Highlands provincial government and Kainantu District Administration. 
The MoU, under the auspices of European Union (EU) funded “district towns water supply (DTWS) programme”, provides funding for the construction of new water supply systems for the districts. 
The EU is funding additional water supply systems Finschhafen in Morobe province, Kainantu in Eastern Highlands province and Maprik in East Sepik province.
At the MoU signing, it was made known that K6 million of the EU funding is expected to increase to K10 million for Kainantu to serve 5,000 people.
The Eastern Highlands provincial government has contributed K390,000 and the Kainantu district administration has put in K215,000 while the National Authorisation Office has committed to fund studies for ground water system.
“Our recent experience with the nearly completed Maprik water supply project gives us a good experience to ensure the Kainantu project is delivered smoothly,”PNGWB managing director Peter Amini said. 
“With a population of 15,000 people, Kainantu has the potential for growth and is economically viable but water supply has been an issue for many years,” Eastern Highlands Provincial Administrator Munare Uyassi said.
“The construction of new water supply in Kainantu is the first step PNGWB is taking in the Highlands region. Professionalism is required to replace the current pumping of water from rivers through gravity feeder,” he said.
The DTWS programme was driven by PNGWB project management unit and became operational under EU funds on May 15.
The project is scheduled to start in September after all necessary technicalities and feasibility studies have been completed.