Morobe needs K7.3m to fix road, bridges

By JUNIOR UKAHA
THE Morobe government needs K7.3 million to fix the damage caused by flooding and landslips, acting provincial administrator Sheila Harou says.
In a letter the Prime Minister’s Department dated October 21, 2016, Harou said the rain, flooding and landslides had caused widespread destruction to Government infrastructure.
“Because of budget constraints, immediate response to fully restore infrastructure damage to roads and bridges were delayed affecting the smooth flow of services into the affected districts,” Harou said.
The damaged infrastructure were in Lae, Huon Gulf, Bulolo, Markham, Nawaeb and Finschhafen.
Harou said the cost breakdown was:

• K300,000 – relief response for Lae district;
• K500,000 – Bumbu River flood destruction;
• K1.8 million – damage to the Busu bridge in Nawaeb;
• K500,000 – 11-Mile culvert washout;
• K2.5 million – flood at Zuming and Mutzing section;
• K300,000 – landslips along Heldsbach/Pindiu Road;
• K200,000 – scouring on Shong Bridge;
• K600,000 – Bulolo-Wau landslip; and,
• K600,000 – damage caused by Kumalu River.

Governor Kelly Naru said the provincial government did not have the funding to assist the affected people and to repair damaged infrastructures.
“We will have to take the matter up with the Government and see if they could assist us,” Naru said.