Cracks and sinking gardens baffle villagers

By ZACHERY PER
A GROUP of villagers are baffled by the huge cracks that have appeared on the highway between Ku and Dakamambuno villages in the Sinasina-Yongomugl district, Chimbu province.
They have also noticed the sinking of food gardens and land near the foot of Mt Porol.
Locals fear that if it rains, the cracks on the road could cause parts of the highway to slide.
John Aina, spokesman for the Kindiku and Gena clans of the Yongomugl tribe, is concerned that portions of the land where the highway runs through could be washed away if it rains.
Locals have noticed that food gardens and land located about 500m from the foot of Mt Porol are sinking.
They do not know why but they have seen debris carried downhill by the Membi streams into the Wara Simbu River.
“The crater-like slip is a mystery. We cannot see any single plant or crop. Even untouched vegetation is sinking,’’ he said.
Aina also fears that the sinking mountain could force the land where the highway runs through to swell leaving cracks on the road.
The villagers want the government to provide immediate repatriation to avoid any major disaster which could cost lives and properties.
More than 400 families displaced by the Porol landslide last July have remained homeless and without food gardens.
Locals have also noticed huge crater-like holes at the foot of the mountain and nearby areas where water disappears into when it rains.
“Cracks seems very frightening and if they shift downwards towards the highway, it will cause a catastrophic disaster,’’ he said.
“I call on the government to intervene immediately and declare the area a disaster zone and repatriate the affected
clans to avoid any loss of
lives and properties.”
He is confident that the government will help them.
 “Protecting and safeguarding the people is the paramount obligation of any governments and that is exactly what the current government is doing,” Aina said.