Cemetery concerns rise
The National, Tuesday June 18th, 2013
By SONIA KENU
NINE-Mile cemetery on the outskirts of Port Moresby City is expanding without proper controls, according to the National Capital District Commission.
NCDC health chief surveyor Isowa More told The National yesterday that the commission did not have an immediate plan for another cemetery as the current cemetery was expanding to the nearby hills.
He said the commission was concerned that the hillside was being used for burials and
residential premises.
“Residential premises should not be built too close to the cemetery,” More warned.
He added that the Lands and Physical Planning Department had verified the status of land ownership of the cemetery land and “it appears the land belongs to NCDC”.
Cemetery registry clerk Benjamin Wayaki, who works under the NCDC health division, said there was still land available for the expansion of the current cemetery.
“We work here and we see there is still land available for burials,” he said.
“It is a big area and there are only 10 of us. We need 20 more men to make the work easier.”
The NCDC’s current rate for burials is K165 for an adult and K110 for a child aged 13 years and below.