North Fly gives more funding to infrastructure

The National National

INFRASTRUCTURE has taken the biggest slice (30 per cent) of North Fly district’s 2019 budget of K14.8 million, says MP and district development authority chairman James Donald.
He said at the DDA meeting at remote Mougolu station in Nomad local level government on Tuesday that infrastructure was key to driving developments in the district.
A total of K4,464,722.82 will be spent on four major roads in the district, two of which are in their construction phases.
This includes an international road connection across the border to Indonesia.
The four roads are:

  • Ok Menga-Olsobip;
  • Alice Pit-Yetetkun (Indonesia);
  • Gre (Smotu)-Ramp Site; and,
  • Ralengre-Sisimakam.

Others coming up later in the year after tendering process include Ramp Site (Kiunga)-Nomad Road and Kmom-P’nyang Road.
The 2019 district services improvement programme (DSIP) budget for North Fly comprised of 2018 carry-over funds of K4,882,409.40 and K10 million 2019 allocation.
The district’s expenditure priority areas are as follows:

  • Infrastructure 30 per cent (K4,464,722.82);
  • Health 20 per cent (K2,976,481.88);
  • Education 20 per cent (2,976,481.88);
  • Economic sector 10 per cent (K1,488,240.94);
  • Law and justice 10 per cent (K1,488,240.94); and
  • Administration 10 per cent (K1,488,240.94)

“We have prioritised infrastructure, especially roads in the district, in order to make basic services accessible for rural communities,” Donald said.
“This was in line with the province’s development priority areas captured during the development forum last year.”