50,000 to get power supply in Hagen

By JAMES APA GUMUNO
MORE than 50,000 people living in the Hagen rural local level government in Hagen Central, Western Highlands, will benefit from a rural electrification programme.
Minister for Petroleum and Energy William Duma presented K2,886,500 of the K6 million allocated to PNG Power on Thursday afternoon for the project.
This is the first phase of the rural electrification programme and will covers 16 projects in Koibuga-Yupa, Bagl-Baisu, Kelua-Kiki, Wula-Kantel, Keltiga-Tengtenga, Gumanch-Panga, Rau Bridge-Koge, Kenta-Rukioa, Kelua-Ambra, Kantel-Kunmong, Minimb-Togoba, Olgulben-Kik, Ogulben-Puntibuk, Roa-Ruguwa, Ogulben-Tokotom, and Pepa-Ruguwa.
Duma said the joint district planning and budget priority committee identified 30 projects in the rural electrification programme and allocated the money.
He said after the first phase was completed, they would pay the balance to PNG Power to continue with 19 other projects still in the pipeline.
He said the projects would start soon after PNG Power brought all the materials needed from outside the province.
Duma said the project would benefit more than 50,000 people living in the Hagen rural local level government.   
He challenged the councillors and leaders present during the presentation to educate their people not to demand a single toea in compensation from PNG Power for cutting down their trees while pulling power lines through their villages.
He said it was an important project and he wanted leaders and their people to cooperate with PNG Power so the job could be completed quickly.
Duma warned that if he heard of people demanding compensation or threatening PNG Power workers, he would re-direct the project to other places where people were willing to provide free labour and resources to get the important service.
 He said the rural electrification programme would cover the district and he would help people pull service lines to their houses.
He said the project would roll-over during the election period until all the 30 projects identified were completed.
Mt Hagen PNG Power centre manager Pulman Tirang said many people wanted power to improve their quality of life but because of limited funding and shortage of manpower they could not to help.
Tirang commended Duma for seeing the needs and cries of his people.
Deputy Governor and council president of Hagen rural local level government Wai Rapa said all the leaders would give undivided support to PNG Power to carry out their work when they came to their area.