Provincial house restoration starts

 AFTER years of neglect and abuse, the Morobe State House, in Lae, is finally being restored after it was rescued from illegal squatters two weeks ago.

A visit there yesterday showed work in progress to the central lobby and the two wings.

Joe Chaka, a building supervisor with contractor Township Builders, said the sprawling structure would be fully maintained and restored in another two-and-a-half-weeks.

“It will cost around K300,000. If I am right, this will be the first time a full maintenance and restoration work was done to this provincial asset since the term of the former governor,” Chaka said yesterday.  

Work started a fortnight ago after Lae police evicted an undisclosed number of squatters who took up residence, allegedly after the former governor lost last year’s election.

There have been claims the house and compound were used for illicit activities like drinking, gambling, drug dealing and prostitution.