Collapsed bridge in affects hundreds

By GIBSON TORASO
UPNG journalism
student
HUNDREDS of people in Enga’s Kompiam district have been affected by the collapse of a bridge five weeks ago.
Six major tribes in the sub-district called on their MP John Pundari to immediately fix the collapsed Punap Bridge as it was their only link with the rest of the province and country.
They said there had been no effort to repair it.
They said the collapsed bridge would affect more than 50,000 people.
Pundari had earlier told the people while officially opening a coffee processing facility in the district that parts for the bridge had been ordered and it would be restored.
But a group of people representing the Yalingin, Kalyimb, Waeyalun, Litipin, Poreyalin and Tinalapin tribes said they did not want to wait any longer for the bridge to be restored because “it is cutting off the flow of other basic services into the electorate”.
They said the collapsed bridge had cut off the flow of medical supplies for health centres, school supplies for Kompiam High School, primary schools and church services.
“We are badly affected as a result of the collapse of the bridge and with those parts of the bridge ordered by the MP, it should be built as soon as possible to make our lives easier,” they said.
On behalf of the Poreyalin tribe, village leader Nelson Malu said since it was the only route to the rest of the province, the bridge had to be repaired before the school year began.
 “Whether we voted for him (Pundari), we are his people and want this bridge to be restored for the sake of 50,000 people,” he said.