MP assures communities water project will continue

THE Dodo Heights and Kogeva communities in the National Capital District have been assured their water project will soon to be implemented with the second payment of K250,000 to Eda Ranu.
Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko told The National that the water project, which would cost K500,000, was initiated last year with the first payment of K250,000 made to the water company.
Tkatchenko, however, said with the changeover in management following the amalgamation of the two State-owned entities, Water PNG and Eda Ranu, the project had stalled.
The women and children from Kogeva in Kaugere area had raised concern about water problems and their long overdue water project.
They claimed that Tkatchenko had promised in 2018 to solve the water problem and upgrade the power supply.
Tkatchenko said his office had been liaising with Eda Ranu because they had paid for work to start. He said the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) had provided the copies of the cheque for the first component that was paid to Eda Ranu as proof.
“All was being cleared with Eda Ranu only recently did they receive the money,” he said.
“This has been very frustrating and a big disappointment for me that this project has taken so long.
“Even if they had a change of management and amalgamation of the two State entities they should have delegated somebody to start work on it.
“I am now with the NCDC and we have raised the final payment for the additional K250,000 to get this project started.
“I have informed the communities that I will ensure the project is completed by the end of this year.
“We’re working with new management, pushing them to get the project completed for our people.”