FELLING License and Development consent issued to Tapilo and New World logging company that operated in the catchment area of Kongulai water has not been canceled since the water crisis in Honiara started.
In an interview with an official from Ministry of Forest and Research yesterday confirmed the license for milling or fell trees within and nearby the catchment area of Kongulai water that supplies more than 40% of the capital city was never canceled, despite revelation during the recent public forums that both Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Forest failed the people of Honiara.
“I can only confirm that there is no such thing as cancellation of the license of those operating upstream of Kongulai and if there was a decision made to cancel then I should be informed to serve those parties concern,” the officer confirmed.
This paper had witnessed call from members of the public during the recent stakeholders briefing organized by Solomon Water and the forum held at Kukum that cancellation of the license is the only solution to solve the water crisis in Honiara.
But since then, no action taken by both forestry and environment division to cancel the license of loggers and landowners operated within and nearby the catchment area of Kongulai water.
And this delay is taking more than a month now since the issue of water crisis was brought to the attention of the relevant stakeholders.
Solomon Water confirmed in the briefing last week that they could not stop the water crisis is beyond their control since both government ministries (environment and forestry) failed to work closely with them.
By AATAI J. LAUNGI
