Residents forced to drink river water

Markus Makur, The Jakarta Post, Timika | Wed, 04/14/2010 10:39 AM

Kokonao residents are currently becoming dependant on the nearby river for bathing, washing, drinking and cooking.

The findings were revealed recently by local councilors. Kokonao is part of West Mimika district, Mimika regency, Papua.

During the dry season, the people are said to often drink dirty river water because the well, built by the government, cannot be used.

“Water from the well, built by the Papua provincial administration, cannot be consumed because it is salty,” Kokonao resident Viktor Kiloona told The Jakarta Post.

“It is difficult to obtain clean water during the dry season so residents fetch water from the river to drink.”

Kiloona said children in Kokonao usually drank water from the river during the drought.

He also said the clean water facility built by the government contained salt so people could not use it for drinking.

“The residents drink coconut water instead, but this is not sufficient.”

Former Mimika councilor from the Kamoro tribe Marianus Maknepeko told the Post that the clean water facility in Kokonao was no longer functioning because the well produced brackish water.

“I hope the Mimika regency administration restores it so it functions to meet residents’ daily needs. Kokonao residents apparently are used to drinking unclean water during the drought,” he said.

“We are concerned about the condition Kokonao residents are facing now due to a stalled project.

People have so far been depending on Mimika River to meet their basic needs, Kiloona said.

This is hazardous to their health and this must be addressed immediately,” added Mimika legislative Commission C vice head M. Nurman S. Karupukaro.

Pipes and taps are no longer working because they are rusty, he said. Based on residents’ accounts, people have faced water shortages for more than a month due to a lack of rainfall.

In response to the finding, Karupukaro said that his office would immediately urge the government to address the issue. He added that some residents had contracted respiratory diseases, which can develop into tuberculosis.

“We don’t want this to happen, so the government should immediately take stern measures. Inspect Kokonao and immediately improve the condition.”

Kokonao played a part in a missionary in the past.

When Dutch missionaries arrived in Kokonao, the people of Kokonao were said to have excelled in various fields such as education.

However, when the Mimika regency administration was established, the living conditions of the people was reported to be of grave concern, especially in terms of education, infrastructure and facilities.

Now, the people’s condition in Kokonao remains unfavorable due to its various disadvantages.

Residents’ livelihoods are dependant on marine resources such as fish, crabs and shrimp, but the government has failed to pay attention to the available wealth.