Department’s new policy aims at reducing geohazards

GEOHAZARDS can be reduced if there is an appropriate policy in place, an official says.
Department of Mineral Policy and Geohazards Management deputy secretary Winterford Eko said this during a stakeholder consultative workshop on Friday to discuss the geohazards management policy which the department is working on.
The department’s mandate is to regulate, develop mining policies and manage geohazards.
Eko said recent disasters were the reason why a policy needed to be developed. “We see a need because we can develop and do business or activities, setting up infrastructure,” he said.
“We cannot reduce or remove geohazards but we can manage through proper policy guidelines.
“The major hazards were; the twin volcanic eruptions in Rabaul in 1994, the recent Kadovar volcanic eruption and the earthquake in the Highlands.
“These are the major things that make us want to develop a policy to protect the lives of people as well as the assets.”
Eko said the department believed that from the development of the policy, provinces and districts can know how to manage geohazards.
“Especially in those areas around the northern part of PNG which are Mamose, New Guinea Islands and going up to the Pacific ring of fire.”