Shoddy water project in Timor

Shoddy water project in Timor

DILI, East Timor: A drinking water project in the Manatuto regency, 50 kilometers east of Dili, has been left uncompleted, causing the state to suffer a loss of Rp 7 billion (US$3.1 million).

Elvis, a regency official, said yesterday that the contractor has failed to report on the project to the government, sparking speculations that the businessman may have colluded with certain local officials.

Manatuto is one of several regencies that suffers from lack of clean water during the dry season. The contractor is identified as PT Taruna Karya. Company officials were not available for comment.(yac/rms)