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Flooding hit road works
By
Reporter
MULTI-million kina donor funded road projects in the Western Highlands province have come to a standstill for several weeks as flooding and landowners disrupt workers from operating. Several newly constructed bridges and both sealed and incomplete part of feeder roads are under the threat of being washed away, with some already damaged. Two weeks ago, construction work between Kindeng and Kondopina were forced to close as locals chased away machine operators with bush knives and axes, blaming them for creating pathway for flooded water to destroy their properties. The locals also alleged that contractors were not willing to help assist in blocking flood water coming into their food gardens and other properties. Seven vehicles belonging to a construction company were forcefully impounded when the Wahgi busted its banks and submerged a very large area of food garden, houses and other properties, displacing over 700 settlers between Kindeng and Kondopina. Quick response by the Asian Development Bank - the donor funding the road works in the ring road- caused the equipment to be returned. However, work has been halted as contractors fear for the lives of their staff members. In the Dei District, two newly built bridges worth over K20 million are under threat of being washed away as the Muka and Kuiya rivers continue to flood, submerging them and creating new routes through food gardens and virgin land, and in several locations washed away culvert bridges, cutting off thousands of people from the outside world. Thousands of school children were cut off from their schools all over the region, and parents fearing their lives, keep them at home. Highlands Divisional Police Commander Simon Kauba called on people in the region to be responsible and not take advantage of the unprecedented flooding. “We should all be thinking and helping each other now and not do any silly things by adding more damage or assisting in the damages caused by nature,” Mr Kauba said. Meanwhile flooding in the Western Highlands slowed down yesterday but downstream the Waghi created havoc in neighbouring Chimbu province by submerging houses, food gardens and other properties. |
NEWS
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