The Development of the National Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Authority (NWSHA) could be shelved for another 10 years.
This is to ensure that the capacity of District Development Authority’s (DDA’s) are enhanced to take on the responsibly of critical services at the rural level.
Planning and Monitoring Secretary, Hakaua Harry, said this during the signing of the K223 million World Bank loan for a nationwide water supply and sanitation roll out program.
“What we intend to do before we enter into that authority is to make sure that we build the capacity of our DDA’s because of the option the Government is taking to enhance and build the capacity of DDA’s is to take the responsibility of services down at the sector.
“So with this program we’re heading that way while were looking at a WaSH Authority maybe in the longer term,” Secretary Harry said.
Water PNG Managing Director, Raka Taviri, says the development of the authority was critical as it would set the standards for water sanitation and hygiene.
It will also deal with policy implementation, sector regulation, coordination, monitoring and capacity building.