Warning on makeshift structures

BY ZACHERY PER
PEOPLE along the Highlands Highway have been warned against building houses and makeshift structures on road side hoping to make a quick buck from the Highland Highway rehabilitation programme (HHRP).
Eastern Highlands provincial police Commander Supt Teddy Tei issued the warning yesterday after a family missed near death when a heavy truck ran off the road and completely wrecked their house.
He said people are moving very close to the highway to even one or two metres off the edge of the road posing serious threats on their lives and property.
Supt Tei urged them to consider whether or not their lives are more important than the money they dream of claiming from the HHRP.
He also said police and respective Government officials are critically screening such development along the highway, especially in Simbu province, before claims are honoured.
“I warn people along the highway against erecting structures and environmental improvement like ornamental plants and food crops within 10 metres from the road because this portion remain State land,” he said.
The truck which came on a high speed also smashed a power pylon and destroyed several coffee trees before hitting a mango tree.
Power supply to Mato Primary School, canteens and local churches was immediately cut off.
PNG Power workmen were seen working around the clock to re-erect the pylon and restore electricity supply.
The incident happened at Komunive village along the Manto stretch of the Highlands highway near Asaro Government administrative centre last Tuesday morning.
Supt Tei said the driver of the truck owned and operated by Kutubu Transport (KT) lost control soon after driving the truck at high speed along the Manto road.
He said the truck suddenly cornered towards the left wrecked up the house, coffee trees and downed the power pylon before hitting the mango tree after running off the road for at least 120 metres.
Supt Tei said if the mango tree was not there, a small canteen close to it would also have been crushed.
He said it was very fortunate that the incident occurred during the day.
If it was in the night, the entire family line houses would have been killed.
Vice Chairman of the Daulo Village Court Magistrate Siwi Homai speaking on behalf of the family whose home was wrecked told The National at the site, among several properties two coffee pulpers, a sewing machine, coffee bags were destroyed.
He said the driver escaped unhurt with bruises.