The Department of Water and Sanitation Services (SAS) begun plumbing clean water to communities living in rural areas through a grant worth $80 million from AusAID to the Secretariat of State for Water and Sanitation.
Secretary of State Elias Pereira Moniz, said work has already started with the funds awarded.
“We started water canalization in the 13 districts focusing mainly in rural areas. In the past AusAID already supported similar initiatives so we also conducted maintenance of old pipes,” said SE Moniz in Dili.
As part of the initiative the community has been engaged to conduct maintenance works of the new water network.
The SE urged local communities to not destroy the new water network system.
“Do not destroying it in fact it needs your protection.”
Meanwhile Member of Parliament (MP) Inacio Moreira said clean water is a basic need and the government needs to give it due attention.
“It needs to monitor carefully the system, because some probably already have access to clean water, but others haven’t and that is a concern,” MP Moreira said.
He hopes the new funds will be managed adequately and according to a plan.
Meanwhile Beto (Dili) community resident, Mateus de Jesus, said despite the national parliament approving funds for clean water many people are still complaining they do not have access to clean water.
“In Beto sometimes we only have running water every three days,” he said.
