Law to recognise waterway owners

OWNERS of dams, reservoirs and wharves will be treated like oil and gas landowners through a new legislation that is before cabinet, Minister for State Enterprises Ben Micah said in parliament.
Micah said the legislation would look at landownership so landowners would benefit like owners of resource areas.
He said the proposal would look at allowing landowners of hydro-dams, water reservoirs and wharves to participate in development and look at extending the state-owned businesses to the communities.
Central Governor Kila Hoada suggested Eda Ranu expand its services to communities in Central as all sources of water and electricity were from the province but nothing had been returned to it.
Micah said under the proposed legislation, Eda Ranu and other state enterprises would do business outside the city.
Meanwhile, Micah said he would send a team of engineers to Vanimo to study the proposed establishment of a water supply programme this week.
He suggested the provincial government and MP for Vanimo-Green, Belden Namah, should become partners and contribute towards the funding of a water supply and sanitation system in the province.