200 families in the Womayen Village of Yangoru-Saussia District in East Sepik province are set to receive a 5,000Litre water tank each under the District Development Authority’s (DDA) WaSH Project.
The first 37 tanks arrived last week, and the rest are expected to arrive in the next two weeks.
“We have made the payment to the supplier for the 200 tanks; however, their tanks are currently out of stock. It is my hope that in the next two weeks all 200 tanks will be delivered,” said the local MP and the Minister for International Trade and Investment, Richard Maru.
He said each tank cost K6,000 and each family contributed 10 percent equity (K600) and the DDA topped up K5,400.
In total, the DDA spent over a million kina to support the families in the Womayen Village to purchase the 200 tanks.
Minister Maru said this was the first phase of the Womayen Market project.
“Our mothers cannot cook food to sell at the market without clean water. They have honored the commitment of 10 percent equity contribution, and we will deliver 200 tanks to the families in Womayen.
As we look forward to celebrating the country’s 50th Anniversary, we hope to close one chapter, a chapter like carrying containers to find water in the rivers and move into a new chapter where we have access to clean and safe water and where our mother can sit and trade in proper markets,” added Minister Maru.
Meanwhile, Minister Maru will be leading a delegation including the DDA CEO, the representatives from Womayen Village and the engineers to visit the Kimbe Market to see their design and operations.
“The concept design for the Womayen Market is ready. After our visit to Kimbe we will finalize the design with the input from the representatives of the Womayen village and we will prepare tender documents to go on tender,” said Minister Maru.
He said the Womayen Market, upon completion, will be a 24-hour market that would not only serve the people of Womayen and the Yangoru-Saussia District but also those from other districts in the East Sepik Province, West Sepik Province, and all travelling public along the Sepik Highway.
“This market will operate 24 hours, which means there has to be proper electricity and water supply system, a police station so our mothers and girls are safe, a guest house for the mothers travelling from afar to rest in, banks, ablution block, an office, a car park, and other essential facilities,” said Minister Maru.