As families around the country prepare for Diwali, a resident from Qelewaqa in Labasa has raised concerns about ongoing water supply issues in his area, claiming that nearly 15 households have continued to face intermittent water outages for the past 15 years.
Speaking to fijivillage News, Sunil Narayan stressed the daily struggles faced by his household and community, particularly during Diwali when they need to clean their homes.
Narayan explains that the water is shut off without any prior notice, and as workers, they do not have time to store water during the day.
He says the lack of supply in the evenings makes daily life difficult, especially for household chores.
The 53-year-old highlighted that they have made several calls to the Water Authority of Fiji and are usually told there has been a breakdown.
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He is calling on higher authorities to take the issue seriously and investigate why water breakdowns occur so frequently during Diwali.
He also urged the Water Authority of Fiji not only to restore regular supply to the area but also to ensure water carts are dispatched when needed.
Narayan’s appeal comes as thousands across Fiji prepare for Diwali, the festival of lights, which will be celebrated on Tuesday.
We have sent questions to WAF regarding this matter.