By ZACHERY PER
SIMBU province is experiencing heavy rains with the Waghi River and Wara Simbu likely to burst their banks.
Simbu Provincial Disaster and Emergency coordinator Joe Kegemo made this known yesterday and called on people living along the of banks of the two rivers to take extra precautions and move to higher grounds.
Mr Kegemo confirmed receiving reports of landslides and continuous heavy rains in various parts of the province
He told The National in Kundiawa yesterday there would be continuous rains, especially this month and next month and warned people living along these two rivers to move to higher grounds.
Mr Kegemo also issued a similar warning to people living along the mountain slopes and hills because they would experience landslides if the rain persists.
He said there were severe disasters in remote parts of the province but due to the remoteness of these areas, they were not reported to his office.
A direct consequent of the wet season in Simbu is a big pond in the heart of Kundiawa town in front of the town’s Post Office.
The entrance gates to the Post Office have been closed forcing customers to gain access through the back gates.
A staff at the Kundiawa Town Authority, who requested anonymity, told The National this week that they had no funds to cater for the town’s upkeep.
He said they were unsure as to who was supposed to remove the pond in the heart of the town and to oversee the general upkeep of the town.
“We are duly responsible to maintain the town but as we have no funds to carry out our duties, we are helpless,” he said.
It is understood the Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Joe Mek Teine has allocated funding assistance towards the town road re-developments under the K4 million for each districts in the recent Supplementary Budget.