Locals welcome takeover by Water PNG in Goroka

By ZACHERY PER
AN integrated land group (ILG) that owns a large portion of land that hosts the source of Goroka’s water supply has welcomed moves by Water PNG to take over water supply in the town.
Anupa-Golohazuha ILG chairman Winnie Namane described the announcement by National Planning and Monitoring Minister Richard Maru as a “timely intervention to address outstanding water quality and landowner participation issues”.
“The compliance issues spelt out by Minister Maru has at last hit home to eliminate risks of being prone to water-borne diseases and other negative effects,” he said.
“The current and past management has poorly handled land and resource owner’s participation, breaching water and resource acts 1982 (section 16 (2) (a) that allows for compensation.
“We as the legitimate land and resource owners should be included in the list of stakeholders and State agencies listed for discussions with minister Maru.
Namane said 60 per cent of the water supply intake belonged to his Aratiufa clan, a member of Anupa-Golohazuha ILG, which guaranteed them to be an automatic party to pre-discussions and mediations regarding the water supply.
Goroka urban local level government continues to oppose the Water PNG takeover.