By ZACHERY PER
PEOPLE claiming to be landowners on the Daulo Pass sector of the Highlands Highway have demanded K300,000 from the Government before work is allowed to proceed to clear the debris from Monday’s afternoon’s massive landslip.
This is the second time for the landslip to occur at the Daulo Pass and inconveniencing the highway traffic.
And Eastern Highlands provincial Works manager Steven Sapalo is under pressure to agree to demands by the landowners to pay them the money.
Landowners yesterday halted immediate clearance work and negotiated with Mr Sapalo and his team for the money.
Daulo landowners chairman John Kendinive told The National at the site yesterday that they want K100,000 for the last week’s landslip and another K200,000 for this week’s mishap as per an agreement with the provincial Works manager.
Mr Kindinive said Covec Contractor would be allowed to carry out urgent clearance work today as soon as Mr Sapalo signed the agreement to effect the immediate payment of K300,000 payment “for environmental damages” caused by the landslips.
The latest landslip buried a house, two live pigs, two potato bags and properties estimated to be valued at K500, plus K800 cash, the house owner Damane Okukginina claimed.
Mr Okukginina said it was lucky that the landslip occurred at around 5:30pm during the day sparing a lot of lives.
Meanwhile, Eastern Highlands provincial police commander Supt Teddy Tei warned locals at Daulo to respect the rule of law and avoid taking the situation into their own hands to steal and harass commuters.
Travellers are transiting through the landslip to catch PMVs on either sides of the highway to continue their journey.
Supt Tei said three suspects had already been arrested for allegedly stealing from commuters since last week.