Hundreds in Jiwaka to benefit from road

HUNDREDS of people from the Warlgi tribe and blockholders of Avi in Anglimp-South Waghi, Jiwaka, will now benefit from an upgraded road funded by the World Bank.
The 4.5km feeder road from Avi junction to Kamadika had been a concern for the people dependent on transporting cash crops, such as coffee, to market.
The World Bank, through its agriculture component focused on coffee rehabilitation, made available K2 million to help fix the road which had not been used since the early 1980s.
The contract to maintain the portion of road was awarded to engineering firm EJ Sisters Ltd.
Warlgi leaders Isaac Yaldi and Joseph Eli kept track of the road work to ensure it was built on time.
Abram Mamani, a local from Kamadika village , told The National that this was the first road built during the colonial days and had not been maintained since the mid-1970s.
He said after fixing the road, the Baisu-Hagen road, would be worked on followed by the Highlands Highway.
Mamani said people had been carrying their cargo over long distances and the sick were forced to reach medical services on foot.
He thanked the World Bank for funding the construction and EJ Sisters for fixing road.
Mamani said they had fertile lands for farming but had been unable to develop it because of accessibility.
John Kange, a PMV driver, said for the first time, he could drive into the village at Kamadika.
He said because of the condition of the road his crew had to sleep in the bus at Avi.
“This is a relief to this community,” Kange said.
EJ Sisters senior engineer and project manager Peter Pia said work on the road had begun earlier this year and were on schedule to complete before the Aug 4 deadline.
He said under the same programme of the World Bank, EJ Sisters was building another 2.5km feeder road from Kamda to Waipip in Nebilyer, Western Highlands.