Locals want Kundiawa-Gewa road works to go on

Highlands, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday 08th Febuary 2012

THE first phase of the K25.5 million Kundiawa-Gewa road tar-sealing is progressing well – thanks to the support of landowners.
It is part of the Kundiawa-Gembogl road in Chimbu.
Community leaders from the Simbaiku and Okondiea clans allowed the roadwork to progress through their Yuai village because they wanted it completed, despite outstanding issues they still had with the government.
The village is known as the gateway for the Gembogl people.
Spokesmen Siune Kua, Goiye Daka, Siune Endiyomba, Kawagle Aur, Sak Giglmai, Kuglame Nime and Kagl Kutne said last Saturday at Yuai village they had a pending water supply issue with the government.
But they wanted the important road project to go ahead.
The people sacrificed their houses and gardens to make way for the road construction.
Kua, speaking on behalf of the leaders, said they wanted to allow the road to be upgraded without any compensation demands.
He said a K6.8 million released by the government to them for the Urr water supply had not reached them.
They wanted to ensure that the road project was completed without any hassles.
“We want to see the people of Gembogl have access to a decent road,” Kua said.
Daka commended Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Tobias Kulang for supporting the projects which was started by the late MP Joe Mek Teine.
Project engineer from the Asian Development Bank  James Komun, acting district administrator Nickson Nebare and project public relations officer Siwi Kuman said the people were happy to get the road and had not caused any problems.
Nebare thanked leaders of Okondiea and Simbaiku for supporting the project.
Komun said they were concentrating on grubbing and clearing from Yuai to Undikewarr creek since the work started on January 19.
He said representatives from ADB, contractor Shorncliffe, Water Board and District Administration were always on site to address any queries.
They have 18 months to complete the project of sealing from Kundiawa to Gewa – a stretch of 10.76 kilometres.
The second phase from Gewa to Mondia, which will be shortest route to reach the lowlands (Madang), depends largely on government’s further funding.
It is roughly 136 kilometres from Kundiawa to Madang via the Mondia Pass in Gembogl. It is around 350 kilometres from Kundiawa to Lae.