For decades the people of Porebada village, just about 30minutes drive away from the nation’s capital Port Moresby city, have been without proper water supply and sanitation.
The village in the Hiri West of the Central Province is home to about 10,000 plus people and it’s one of the four PNG LNG impacted villages. Boera, Papa, and Lealea being the others.
Without any flowing streams, rivers or water supplies, these four villages in the PNG LNG project area have been struggling with water for decades.
A long-time resident Mr. Paul Maima, who is from Simbu Province and is married to a Porebada woman and has been residing there for over two decades, describes the situation as a daily struggle.
“The country is heading into the 50 years of Independence but sadly development aspiration is still lacking in some areas, and Porebada, which is just few minutes from the city is desperate for water supply and so are the other 3 villages here in the LNG vicinity.”
“This village has a clinic, a primary school and a high school but day to day operation is a struggle when it comes to access to clean water and sanitation.”
Maima added that back in the 80’s there was water supply into the village by Eda Ranu; however, with much development, town expansion, settlements, illegal connection and other factors, water supply was cut off totally.
Mr. Maima is appealing to the relevant authorities and the government of the day to put water solution has the top agender when it comes to Landowner benefits for these impacted villages.
Also speaking in regard to the water problem was the Porebada Besena Women’s group rep Mrs. Taboro Morea who highlighted the struggles women and girls face each day to get water.
“We as the care giver and manageress of our homes spend most our times daily to look for water.”
“Sometimes we make trips to town to fetch water from relatives, other times we are lucky when the water truck comes by the village but then we have to pay for every refill.”
Mrs. Morea further added that there is bow water or well water; however, due to land dispute and the population, not everyone has access to the bow water. Bow water was only used for washing and laundry.
“Couple of years ago, a K1billion funding was made by AUSAID for water pipes and water connection into the village, however to this date we do not know where this money has gone to and we have not seen pipes nor water supply,” Mrs. Morea further elaborated.
“Papa, Borea, Lealea and Porebada, we are desperate for fresh clean water supply and proper sanitation and this LLG President elections, we are hopeful that whoever wins, they must all collaborate and put water and sanitation as the number one agender.”
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