More than 40,000 face power outage

By PETER ESOP WARI
MORE than 40,000 people living along the Highlands Highway from Walum Junction to Kumbame in Southern Highlands are living in darkness after PNG Power was forced to re-route its electricity supply following vandalism.
The re-route exercise was carried out about three years ago when disgruntled landowners reportedly destroyed power poles over payments of structural improvements carried out over land.
Ialibu Basin local level government president Robert Dopo said electricity had been re-routed from Walum through Kendal and Kumbame.
He said the guest houses, lodges, schools, health centres and public were being victimised.
Dopo, who is also the chairman of education in the provincial executive council (PEC), said a minority group did the damage and others were affected.
He said it was the work of criminals and PNG Power did not make any attempts to arrest those responsible.
“Four primary schools,  Giluwe Lodge, Pakule sub-health centre, churches and trade stores have been affected,” Dopo said.
He said Yombi Primary School had received 20 computers from NZAID and they were sitting idle because there was no power.
He said the Pakule sub-health centre had scaled down its operation as it could not store drugs in a cooler and emergency cases could not be treated at night.
Dopo said when the problem was first brought to their attention, community leaders worked with police and PNG Power to contain the situation.
He could not understand why electricity was re-routed.
He said the proposed Kero High School and Mt Giluwe Vocational School would need electricity and the provincial government and MPs should look into the problem and help find a solution.
“We have already seen the importance of electricity and living in the darkness is like going back to the Stone Age,” Dopo said.
He said on behalf of the people, he was sorry for the damage done by a minority group.
Dopo appealed to the leaders and PNG Power to quickly reach a compromise and restore electricity.