Project unit plans to expand Madang town

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By DOROTHY MARK 
MADANG’s project management unit, the Ramu Development Foundation Ltd, (RDFL) has plans to create Madang city by expanding the district boundaries.
RDFL director Dr Boga Figa said the plan was to expand the boundaries to Minjeng in the Astrolabe Bay LLG in Raicoast and Surumarang in Sumkar to cater for bigger developments in the province.
Figa said the US$300 million (K938 million) Hyundai Slipway Project would be developed in the Sek area near the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone.
He said the proposed Mayur power plant was another huge project under way.
“Settlements in town would be relocated in a proper way without using force and there is a PEC (provincial executive council) decision in place made to that effect,” he said.
“We have  highly educated people living in these settlements.”
According to reports presented by Figa, the proposals, if implemented, would enable the town to obtain city status.
Figa said there were plans to set up rural townships in selected areas.
The areas are Yalau, Wagusarik, Usino, Erima, Talidig, Manam resettlement project area, Daigul and Dogowan.
Figa said RDFL had a big dream of bringing the town to the people in villages and rural settings.
He said implementing agriculture projects like cocoa and copra along the road networks to the townships would provide employment for people to keep them there rather than them looking for opportunities in town or move in to live in settlements.
Figa made his presentation to Usino-Bundi MP Jimmy Uguro, Sumkar MP Chris Nangoi and Bogia MP Robert Naguri.