Water issue in Goroka being addressed, says minister

By LULU MARK
WATER supply issues in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, have been prioritised and Water PNG is working on it, a minister says.
State Enterprises Minister William Duma said this in response to questions by Goroka MP Aiye Tambua on the Government’s plan to address the town’s water supply system and when the minister would look into it.
Tambua said since the transfer of the water assets from the Goroka Urban Authority to PNG Water there had been several visits by engineers but to date there had been no status reports from the visits.
Duma said unlike other towns which were under the National Water and Sewage Act, Goroka was the only one under the control of the Goroka Urban local level government (LLG) and came under PNG Water only three years ago through a gazettal.
He said in spite of the legislative correction the LLG had wanted to negotiate with Water PNG for monetary compensation for the transfer of the function.
He said this had caused delays but Goroka still remained an important area.
“Towns like Kundiawa and Goroka have so many recurring water problems,” he said.
“In fact Goroka’s problem is one of those which has now been given priority.
“(The Goroka MP) has seen me on two occasions and I have made it my duty to ask Water PNG to give it some attention and work has been done now.
“It has always been on our radar and work has been done so in the next couple of weeks we will see some positive happenings.”
Duma said K3 million had been paid to the landowners (in Goroka) in recognition of their rights as owners of the resource.
However, he stressed that landowners throughout the country could not claim total ownership over water but only access rights.