Locals sign water project deal

By PISAI GUMAR
KOSA-Tairora landowners in Ontabura finally agreed to release their water source through a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement to supply the proposed Kainantu rural hospital and water sanitation project in Bundaira, Eastern Highlands.
The proposed 60-bed facility will be built on State land within the Bundaira Correctional Services institution through a PPP arrangement.
The arrangement between Ontabura landowners, Bundaira CS, Kainantu urban council and REM Distributors Ltd owner Mike Oroge and Tata Investment and Consultancy Ltd principal Tamalu Mansini was signed on Monday.
Six landowner representatives Keha Akanto, Airi Keha, Matus Timi, Antu Arau, Teo Baibo and Timo Nainanto signed the agreement, strengthened by Bundaira CS commander Crispin Unga, Kosa-Tairora councillor Gata Ma’a, Kainantu urban councillor Chriscilla Smacker and deputy manager Michael Motan.
The understanding was for landowners to offer water source, CS provide land and Oroge to invest in local coffee rehabilitation and revive rundown factories in the district.
Oroge said the coffee intervention activity would enhance local farmers give a new lease of life to rundown coffee plantations and factories to process green beans.
Oroge said a new coffee processing machine purchased from Brazil is in the country ready for the project.
“I am determined to invest in long-term sustainability of the hospital facilities through PPP arrangement by reviving run-down coffee plantations and factories that will generate income to benefit the Kainantu urban council and local farmers,” he said.
“The income from coffee will be distributed equitably (10 per cent) to each farmer to sustain family livelihoods while Kainantu urban council to sustain the maintenance of the hospital, water and sanitation projects, trainings and new community projects” Oroge said.
Mansini and Oroge said they would submit finalised documents to the donor, Department of National Planning and Monitoring, Kainantu MP Johnson Tuke, Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu, the provincial health authority and Correctional Services Department next week.
Smacker pursued the idea four years ago until Oroge and Mansini came to her assistance nine months ago to finalise relevant documents to be approved for funding.