No water, food outlets shut

 By HELEN TARAWA 

ALL food outlets and bakeries in Popondetta have been told to  close following the disruption to the town’s water supply last week.

Provincial health authorities wrote to the operators of kai bars and bakeries to close their shops after the main water supply dam was affected by heavy flooding in the province. 

The kai bars were ordered to await the restoration of the town water supply.

Kendall Wasiripa, senior provincial health inspector, issued the directives to kai bar operators and bakeries last Friday, citing the provision under the Food Sanitation Regulation Act 2007 and the Food Sanitation Act 1991.

In a letter dated Feb 5, 2016, Wasiripa named the four operators to close their shops by 5pm that day.

He said failure to comply would result in legal proceedings against the companies.

The Water PNG dam that supplies the town was severely damaged following heavy flooding in the province. 

The dam inlet waterway collapsed and completely washed out allowing floodwaters to flow into the catchment reservoir exposing equipment that is vulnerable to hazards.

Meanwhile, the provincial authorities have condemned the actions of a foreign-owned and operated kaibar that defied instructions and continued to operate after directives were issued.

Out of the eight kaibars that operated in Popondetta, only two met standards set by Health authorities.