Call to clear blocked SHP road

THE Nipa Basin local level government council in Southern Highlands province has urged the Works Department to allocate emergency funds to clear a section of the Highlands Highway between Mendi and Tari that was cut off by a landslip earlier this week.
Council president of Nipa Basin David Navur told The National after arriving from Nipa on Wednesday that about 300 vehicles and trucks were stranded on both sides of the road while some trucks heading to the Hela region were stranded in Mendi.
Mr Navur said the landslip occurred on Sunday night after heavy rain, where a 50m section of the road at Walte village was cut off by a landslide coming down from a nearby mountain.