Chan okays K136mil for impact projects in Fly

MINISTER for Mining Byron Chan has endorsed a total of K135.8 million for five impact projects within Western to be implemented by Ok Tedi Development Foundation (OTDF) from next year.
The biggest priority will be the five-year Middle and South Fly health development programme.
The funding was approved last week following a submission of the respective feasibility studies made by OTDF on Sept 18 for funding from the CMCA’s Western Province People’s Dividend Trust Fund.
 The secretary for the Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazard Management Shadrach Himata and Treasury secretary Simon Tosali endorsed the funding along with Chan.
The secretary of the department of mineral policy is the custodian of the trust fund.
The projects are Pampenai Road upgrading in the North Fly district worth K27.5 million, the Ningerum foot bridge across the Ok Tedi River, also in the North Fly, worth K6.5 million, the Lake Murray-Aiambak road in Middle Fly worth K58.8 million and the Middle Fly and South Fly health programme worth K43 million.
With appropriate support, OTDF will be implementing the health project immediately to address serious health issues in the Fly area. 
The release of funds was a major relief for the people of Western . 
OTDF assured the CMCA people that the company would provide the best possible quality of service and value for money when delivering the projects so that communities  received full benefit..
OTDF board chairman Nigel Parker said: “Sustainable infrastructure enables commerce and with functional roads and bridges, the industrious people of the province will embrace the opportunities that such infrastructure will bring and coupled with the support being provided by OTDF, supported by the political will of Governor Ati Wobiro, there will only be one outcome and that is that prosperity will begin to emerge in the province and will gain pace over time as driven by the people themselves. 
“With improvements in the quality of basic health care and education realised, these people will become self sufficient.”