Highway damage to cost K8mil

By SONIA KENU 

THE cost of repairing the section of the Highlands Highways damaged by a landslide last weekend has been estimated to cost up to K8 million.

Acting works secretary David Wereh said this yesterday as the Works Department began organising equipment and machinery to be moved to the damaged section of the highway at Kerowagi in Chimbu.

The massive landslide happened last Saturday morning, disrupting the flow of traffic along the important road link to and from the highlands, where more than three million live.

Wereh said the cost of repair and resettlement would be between K7 million and K8 million.

“The scope of the repair works to restore the highway will include removal of debris and reinstatement of the road while local communities within the vicinity of the restoration works will be resettled,” he said. 

“Officers were deployed to the site to assess the situation and prepare scoping and costing but were stopped by landowners demanding compensation. 

“The locals wanted the government to send a team over to do a detailed evaluation on the amount of damage done to their land and crops before the road can be restored.   

“The department has engaged Kerowagi MP Camillus Dagima, provincial administrator for Chimbu and the provincial works manager to negotiate with the locals. 

“The negotiation was held on Tuesday and the department has reported the matter to the police commissioner for police escort at restoration works. 

“Restoration of access is critical to relieve the pressure and related law and order issues on site, detail investigation and assessments on the damage can follow later.”