K1million allocated to fix Aiyura-Omaura road

THE Obura-Wonenara district in Eastern Highlands has allocated K1 million to maintain the Aiyura-Omaura road which serves more than 20,000 people in the Gasup Tairora local level government (LLG), an official says.
LLG president Mapo Taison said the road had been neglected for the past seven years until the district development authority put funds for its upkeep.
He said at the provincial level, Governor Peter Numu’s administration would send machinery to upgrade the road.
The road serves schools, health posts and villages and is vital for transporting cash crops and vegetables to market.
“People are walking long hours to reach their destinations carrying loads of food and other supplies every week,”he said.
“Sick people, cash crops and garden foods are being carried to and fro Kainantu and Goroka.”
Taison said the road construction and maintenance work had started two weeks ago from Aiyura.
He said the concern now was that the contractor only had only one excavator working which was not enough to complete the construction work on time.
He said the authority would not complete payment until the contractor proved that they could complete work on time.
Taison said the road would boost the local economy and contribute to the nation’s economy and the upgrade was important.