PORT MORESBY: A new water desalination plant at Motu-Koitabu’s Vabukori village will benefit nearly 3000 people-who with their containers walk meters and sacrifice sleep during the night-to fetch fresh water.
The prolonged water woes in the village will now become a thing of the past following the opening of the sea water desalination plant today (Thursday, May 23, 2019).
Elated Kei Ravu, 64, Ranu Maso, 57 and Hane Aiga, 40, could not hold back their emotions on how grateful they were for the project.
The trio said they woke up at 12 midday till 6 am either to fetch water at the main tap or fill their reserve tanks with water pumps.
They added that during this time, the water pressure is high when it is not in use.
The project opening at the Mahuru Gaudi Memorial Church was officiated by the National Capital District Governor, Powes Parkop. It was witnessed by ward councillor Rahe Maraiki, the villagers and governor’s staff.
Councillor Maraiki commended the governor for the much needed service, saying he was looking forward to working with the Commission to implement the Governor’s Modernisation of Motu Koita village initiative.
The project is part of Governor Parkop’s pilot fresh water project, which is aimed at converting sea water into fresh drinking water, under the initiative.
The project was made possible through an agreement between the Commission and the Pacific International (PNG) Limited with the technical support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
Speaking at the occasion, Governor Parkop said this is one of the two projects, adding the other is at Pari which will be launched next week.
The projects completed in one year will impact over 8000 villages in villages and were funded by the Commission.
He continued that the project was part of his vision to balance the equation so that the villages can also be developed on par with the rest of the city.
He reiterated that the Motu Koita villages face many socio-economic challenges, but he admitted that it was not easy to solve them all overnight.
