Make ‘dream road’ a reality, Bombom

WHETHER the proposed Malalaua-Kaintiba-Aseki highway is the “missing link” or “dream road” as stated by Kerema MP Pitom Bombom (The National, Oct 27), the people of Kaintiba sub-district in Gulf want it to become a reality.
Our leaders need to stop the rhetoric but get down to the ground and deliver.
We cannot be talking about dreams forever.
If this road were to become a reality, then it will be a long time coming.
After 36 years of hot air, the O’Neill-led government is finally talking and thinking rural.
The government must think and go rural to bring about tangible development projects to boost economic activities and bring improvement in living standards to the rural people because that is where the bulk of our people live.
There are pros and cons of good development proposals.
While good aspects of the project proposal may outweigh the negative impacts, they must not be overlooked.
The hindrances are failures by project developers, stakeholders and those involved from conceptual to implementation, construction and commission stages.
The road will definitely bring both good and bad changes in the lifestyles of our people in Gulf, Morobe and Central provinces in the years to come.
That is why it is very important that those conducting the feasibility studies take into account the health, safety, security, environmental, social and community behavioural changes that will be impacted directly or indirectly one way or the other.
We will need to educate our people in Malalaua, Kaintiba, Aseki and other­ areas where the proposed highway is likely to pass through.
One danger that might prevent this project from progressing is the consultants involved might use up the mo­ney allocated for impact projects.
I hope this does not happen.
We need to learn from Kikori airport redevelopment project.
It is also important that the Ma­lalaua-Kerema section of road is sealed and that muddy and water-logged sections of the road are sealed before building the “dream road”.
 
BK Dara
Baimuru