Collapsed bridge putting Sumkar fisheries projects in danger: Basa

A NUMBER of fisheries projects planned for Sumkar will be affected by the collapse of the Banab Bridge in Madang’s north coast area, Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Patrick Basa, says.
He made a trip to the area last week to assess the situation and said plans to construct a jetty, cool storage facility, installation of ice-production machines and power supply would be put on hold.
The minister said without the bridge, it would be difficult to transport material to the Sumgilbar local-level government area in Ward 17 for work on the facilities to begin.
“The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has identified several locations in the area to build fisheries facilities but due to the state of the only bridge that connects the area, the projects will be delayed until accessibility in the area is restored,” Basa said.
Basa was accompanied by local MP Chris Nangoi and Madang Works manager Andrew Kandauro.
Kandauro said his office was working with the local MP to build a temporary bypass.
Basa visited a newly constructed jetty at the Kranget Island in Madang which cost the NFA K2.9 million.
The jetty and other facilities were completed last month.
Basa said under the NFA’s coastal fisheries agency programme, more jetties and fish storage facilities would be built in communities to assist local fishermen.
So far, jetties and fish storage facilities have been built in Central (Hula), Madang (Kranget) and East New Britain (Kokopo).