More than 100 residents of Nacokaika settlement in Baulevu, Naitasiri, who used to rely on the Rewa River for water, will soon have access to fresh water from a borehole.
Surendra Prasad, a former advisory councillor, said the borehole project was funded by relatives in the US, Australia and New Zealand.
He said Government had supplied water tanks which enabled them to harvest and store rainwater for cooking and drinking over the past three years.
“Everyone in the settlement had to go to the river for all our other needs,” the 66-year-old said.
“As the advisory councillor for the past 15 years, my project was to install a borehole here to cater for all the farmers in this area.
“We are lucky that our relatives in America, Australia and New Zealand donated a large amount of money to fund it.
“They donated $15,500 and a local company from Lautoka drilled the borehole.
“During floods, it is very hard for us to go to the river to bath because of the strong current and most of us don’t know how to swim.”
He said the project would improve the lives of those living in the community.
