K30m set aside for emergency

 By MALUM NALU

WORKS Minister Francis Awesa says his department has K30 million earmarked annually for emergency and restoration works.

He said the department was working to establish the extent of damage caused by flooding in West New Britain over the past few days.

West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel had raised concern about major bridges that had been damaged by heavy rain in the past few days.

He said the Ivule Bridge had collapsed and there was flooding  along the Hoskins-Kimbe Highway, especially near Siki junction and Buluma oil palm sections. The Tiauru Bridge is on the verge of collapsing.

Awesa and Works Secretary David Wereh had visited these areas last year when an emergency was declared after heavy rain wreaked havoc on roads and bridges.

Awesa urged the leaders and people of West New Britain to provide reliable information “so that Works Department can correctly advise the Government on the situation on the ground so that necessary funding to be released for emergency and restoration works”.

“The Works’ Kimbe office is assessing the situation on the ground to accurately establish the cost and the extent of damage,” Awesa said.

“We want to clarify that West New Britain is captured under the K300 million Asian Development Bank bridge replacement programme to replace critical sections, where bridge design from temporary spread footing, will be changed to piles driven in with permanent structures that can withstand extreme weather patterns.

“These new bridge structures have been designed to withstand future extreme weather events such as cyclones and flooding, and will provide a safer, more weather-resilient and reliable access for years to come.

“The department is appealing to the leaders, people of West New Britain and stakeholders to work with Works’ Kimbe office and allow engineers to carry out the inspections before commencing with the emergency and restoration works.”

Awesa appealed to road users in West New Britain, Northern, Madang, Enga, Eastern and Western Highlands to take extra precaution when travelling.