100 to vacate homes
The National, Wednesday November 6th, 2013
MORE than 100 people living in a village outside Mt Hagen are likely to vacate their homes because of the frequent landslides in the area.
The people live at Pipripeng village, Kuta, in Western Highlands. They are from the Kopi tribe.
In 1992, a landslide cut off a road at Pipripeng, built by the first settlers like Sir Danny Leahy. The road connected Mt Hagen to the Tambul-Nebilyer electorate.
It has not been upgraded and cannot be used by vehicles, a spokesman said.
Some families have vacated their land, while others are planning to resettle elsewhere.
Kopi councillor Peter Raim said the lives of the people were at risk.
He said another landslide occurred on Monday night, forcing two families to vacate their homes.
Raim said about 11 permanent houses were in danger of being covered if another landslide occurred.
Raim said the people from Nebilyer had to walk hours with their cargo to reach their homes.
“Thousands of people depend on this road but now it is of no use at all,” Raim said.
He said the Kuta Catholic Church, Kunguma Primary School, Haus Poroman Lodge and the PTC transmitter station were located on the other side of the road.
“Since 1990 up until now, when there is a wet season, there is always a landslide,” Raim said.