K4m to develop road

By ELIAS LARI
THE Dei District Development Authority in Western Highlands has given K4 million to the Works Department to develop the Kotna-Rulna 22km road in the Dei electorate.
The road was closed for more than 23 years after a huge landslide hit two areas at Kila village.
This landslide completely cut off services into Rulna since 1993.
More than 7000 people have been struggling to access the road from Mt Hagen to Rulna and usually carry heavy loads and walk the distance.
Sick people and pregnant women suffer much getting to Kotna or Mt Hagen to seek help and treatment.
A health centre, a primary school and various church denominations are located at Rulna.
School materials, health facilities and church equipment, including building materials, are carried by people.
People who have been suffering are from tribes such as Palgi, Mabuge, Rumalge, Bunumpi, Gamake, Dikimp, Olgimb, Wanemp, Kingka and Kangika.
Dei district development authority chief executive officer Steven Korowa made it known to the public that the road would be completed at the end of the year or early next year.
Work is to start soon.
Korowa said people had been suffering for “a very longtime” and the office of local MP Wesley Nukundi made funding available to reconstruct and maintain the road.
He said the road and bridges were given priority by Nukundi from his district service improvement programme (DSIP) funds, as were health and education.
Korowa said grading from Ambra to Muglamp  and rebuilding of the  Kupininga River culvert bridge connecting the Muglamp Station was given K400,000 last month and Karamong Ltd is doing the work.