THE National Government will continue to support Solomon Water in its endeavours to provide reliable and sustainable water supply and wastewater services to urban centres across the country.
Acting Deputy Director Water Resources Division in the Ministry of Mines and Energy Michael Maehaka uttered these words yesterday when officiating at the ground-breaking ceremony of the Auki Water Supply Improvement Project.
Maehaka stated:
“The Democratic Coalition Government for Advancement (DCCA) under its key policy recognizes the importance of ‘providing an enabling environment to stimulate economic growth in the rural areas’ and ‘ensuring the sustainable utilization and conservation of natural resources including water, its protection and combating the adverse effect of climate change” respectively’.”
He said these key policy objectives are also highlighted in the National Development Strategy 2016-2035.
Maehaka said to address the water supply challenges in the country the national government and Solomon Water embarked on implementation of the SIWA Five-Year Plan and the 30-year strategic plan as the road Map for SIG and SIWA in water supply and wastewater development.
He added that his project is also in line with the NDS2016-2035 as it will improve the delivery of fresh water supplies and wastewater service in the urban centres.
With that, he said the government is committed to develop and protect peoples’ livelihood and the environment to ensure development are sustainable.
The national government is implementing urban Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (UWSSSP) with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank, and the European Union.
UWSSSP aims to improve access to water supply and wastewater service in urban and pre-urban areas of Honiara, Tulagi, Auki, and Gizo.
Maehaka congratulated Solomon Water and its stakeholders for the milestone achievement.
By WILSON SAENI
Auki
