Landslip in Enga cleared

A MASSIVE landslip in Enga province, which blocked off a section of the Highlands Highway since Sunday, has finally been cleared yesterday after successful negotiations with locals in the area.
The landslip occurred  on Sunday afternoon at Sakaarip village just outside Wabag town.
The landslip had not been cleared since than after landowners demanded “improvement and structural fees” before the mass could be cleared.
The fee the locals imposed was to cover for the loss and damages done to their properties during a road upgrade programme carried out recently in the province.
The locals claimed that the provincial Works department had promised to pay them the fee in June last year and then postponed it to last month, which did not eventuate.
After negotiations and tough police presence, an agreement was reached by noon yesterday and the road was cleared for public use at 4pm.