By ZACHERY PER
THE Highlands highway, lifeline to vital businesses and over half of Papua New Guinea’s population, faces closure if a court action taken out by villagers living along the highway is not resolved soon.
The villagers own land at the Ouna section of the highway in the Simbu province, where landslips were common.
Traffic flow along the highway came to a halt last Friday after heavy rain washed away parts of the Ouna section of the highway.
Trucks, PMVs and motorists were stranded from Mingende for the western end and to Kundiawa town for the eastern side.
The section was allowed to be filled up with sand to restore normal traffic at 2pm after Works officials from Kundiawa assured disgruntled landowners that they would be paid compensation next month.
Crucial maintenance work on the 3km section was stopped by a National Court order taken out by the Ouna villagers against contractor Covec, police and Works Department officials.
The villagers from Nigakane, Domkane, Mondoku, Toglkane sub-clans took out the restraining order against the State last October 26.
The National Court in Mount Hagen ordered highway rehabilitation project, National Department of Works and the State to effect payment according to survey, assessment and valuation of structural and environmental improvements and likely damages the landowners would suffer as a result of maintenance and rehabilitation of Ouna section of the highway before work can start.
The court also ordered that the second defendant, Contractor Covec (PNG) Ltd be restrained from entering the section to carry out any maintenance or any reconstruction work until the landowners are paid. A hearing was set last Nov 5, but this was adjourned to Dec 3.
Warner Shand Lawyers acting for Covec (PNG) Ltd, had written to the landowner’s counsel Tonge Lawyers requesting them to liase with the State counsel to ensure the landowners are paid before they return to the court.
Simbu provincial administrator Joe Bal wrote to the acting Secretary for Works Joel Luma last Nov 20, highlighting the serious consequence the State and implementing agencies would suffer from the court order.
Mr Bal stated the critical condition of the section identified as portion 1237C, Milinch of Minj-Simbu could lead to the highway closure which would have detrimental effect on the economy if not attended to.
Ouna landowners group chairman David Parak said they went to court after 91 genuine claimants were overlooked for payment of structural and environmental improvements and another 953 people were not paid when the original payments for the highway rehabilitation were made a year ago.