Environmental issue halts work on Hiritano Highway

WORKS Minister Michael Nali says the delay in the upgrade of a section of the Hiritano Highway from Vanapa to Bereina in Central was due to an environmental issue.
Kairuku-Hiri MP Peter Isoaimo had queried why the road project funded by the World Bank and launched in November last year had seen little to no progress while the road continued to deteriorate.
Isoaimo said the road had become a major concern.
Nali said the road contract funded by the World Bank was awarded to Dekenai Construction on performance-base but the delay in carrying out the work was due to an environmental issue.
“If this road contract is funded by Government, we have our ways of addressing environmental issues based on our laws,” Nali said.
“But this is funded by the World Bank and the environmental issue that was raised is something they address at the international level. We don’t have any say on this. They fund the project and we listen to what they say. So that is the problem that has caused the delay.”
Nali said such funding are monitored and implemented by the donors and the state has little say in how the money be used.