The Ministry of Works is now looking into an agreement made with the villagers of Tamavua a few years back that exempted the villagers from paying water and sewerage bills leading to a substantial loss in revenue over the years.
Works Ministry Spokesperson Sainiana Waqainabete said they are aware of the agreement, however they need to verify the details of the agreement to ascertain who are entitled to be exempted from paying water and sewerage bills and how the funds can be recovered.
Waqainabete reveals that there are other such agreements made with other landowning units which they are also looking into.
The latest Public Accounts Committee report on the 2006 Auditor General's report on Infrastructure Services has revealed the Tamavua villagers claim that the reservoirs are located on their land and that there had been an arrangement made with the Ministry to waive the charges entitling them to get free service.
However the committee said although the audit was informed that under an agreement, only five landowners were exempted from paying for their water bills, there was no documentary evidence to substantiate the claim.
Furthermore the Public Accounts Committee said one of the chiefs of Tamavua village, Ratu Meli Loki Tunisau was claiming the same arrangement should apply to his property at Ragg Avenue and he had disputed the charges, the arrears of which had reached $20,495.
The Committee reveals that there were others like Ratu Meli Loki who were claiming free water for their residence outside the village.
In addition, the committee said there were those in the village and nearby neighborhood who were not from Tamavua Village claiming for the same free water and sewerage service.
Ministry looks into exemption agreement
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