Landowners waiting for response

LANDOWNERS from the Warangoi hydro project area in Pomio, East New Britain (ENB), are still waiting for a positive response regarding their demands over the hydro facility, a local leader says.
The hydro project was entered into through a signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on July 15 between the landowners, provincial government and PNG Power Ltd.
Sinivit local level government president and member of the Warangoi Hydro Landowners Association, Boniface Gerep, said their request for K5 million could be jointly paid by the Government, PNG Power Ltd and the ENB government.
Gerep told The National in Kokopo on Friday that of their demand for K5 million, K300,000- could be paid up front to the landowners through their association, the Qaqet Stewardship Council, prior to the commissioning of the rehabilitated hydro facility.
He said the landowners wanted the money as some funds had not been provided at the MoU signing last month.
Gerep said the balance of the K5 million could then be channelled through other avenues such as development projects.