Let’s see as precious the things we build

Editorial

IT is the responsibility of everyone to look after public infrastructures such as roads and bridges.
It is wrong for people to think it is Government’s responsibility alone. The Government builds these infrastructures for the people to use and it is their collective responsibility to make sure they do not damage them.
As much as they can, people must look after infrastructures because public funds are used to pay for their construction. One cringes at the almost daily reports of damage to infrastructures such as roads and buildings by people.
While nature is at times to blame because of floods, landslides and strong winds, human error and negligence also contribute.
People should appreciate the huge cost of maintaining important assets such as the highways and bridges and understand why they must not abuse or damage them.
For example, some villagers contribute to erosion, flooding and landslips when they ignore proper farming methods, especially on hillsides.
Continual rain in many parts of the country has created havoc such as landslides along the important Highlands Highway.
At the Kassam Pass section of the highway, for instance, there have been a number of landslips which affected traffic flow.
There were five major landslides, plus 30 smaller ones, in this steep section of the highway – the stairway from the Markham and Ramu plains up to Kainantu in Eastern Highlands, and the rest of the highlands provinces.
The clearing of mud and other debris has been ongoing since last Thursday.
The rain and mudslips did not only damage the national highway but also brought down at least one pylon carrying electricity from the Yonki hydro power plant to Morobe and Madang.
At least two villages along the highway were affected by flooding in the Yung and Singsing Creeks.
In the Markham valley, a council president claims that a company producing road construction material at the nearby creek forced the river to change its course and maybe contribute to the flooding of Marazabwang village. A number of high-voltage power poles were also reported to be threatened by the flood.
More than 200 families were said to have been affected by flooding last Wednesday which affected food gardens, houses and domestic animals.
Such a situation should serve as a warning that what may seem to one as small projects such as the extraction of gravel from rivers should be done with due consideration of their effects on the environment.
Those who, by the negligence or carelessness, add to the deteriorating state of vital infrastructure need to be held accountable and told to bear some portion of the repair bills.
There are other simple things such as refraining from cutting trees on hillsides to clear space for gardens, or burning bushes near power poles which people must seriously consider.
The infrastructures are provided for all our benefit and should be looked after by everyone.
Those who damage them or contribute to their destruction are only depriving themselves and everyone else of their use.
One can note in the national budgets each year the amount of funds allocated to infrastructure by the government. They are important because they support economic growth and national development.
Public funds belong to the people. The government only manages the funds and decides how they are spent to benefit the people on major sectors including infrastructure.