Travellers stranded at Kumalu floods

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Thuresday 12th January 2012

THE murky and raging Kumalu River at Mumeng, Bulolo district, Morobe, has created havoc in the past two weeks after continuous heavy rain.
It has caused widespread flooding and damage to infrastructure since last week and affected the supply and services of major companies including the Morobe Mining Joint Venture, Newcrest, Niuminco, PNG Forest Products and Zenag.
Only four-wheel-drive vehicles are allowed to cross with the help of a backhoe pushing them through the river and mud.
Most local coffee growers and buyers including alluvial miners and trade store owners from Bulolo, Wau, Watut, Aseki and Menyamya have been stranded since Monday.
Among them was mother Dona Harvey-Hall who asked if the government had allocated adequate funds this year to address the Kumalu road issue.
The  government allocated K14 million for the Kumalu by-pass road this year but the Patep landowners are yet to decide whether to allow the by-pass to be built on their customary land.
Yesterday, MMJV sent another bulldozer to help the three backhoes.
The Kumalu headwaters are still covered in thick black clouds and continuous rain is expected to last for some time.
Meanwhile, the flow of mud and gravel has blocked the Snake River which flows from Patep and Bangulum down to the Watut River causing the Snake River to swell up forming a lagoon, flooding the Patep village destroying fresh food and cash crop gardens.
Most of the villagers are beginning to relocate to the hill-tops.
The provincial disaster and emergency officers are in the area providing food supplies.
The managing director for Omuka Trading Bou Visa and Wau-Bulolo business association chairman Aaron Akui have lost K5, 000 worth of freezer goods while awaiting the clearance of sediment on Monday.
“I could have travelled over and get on time to deliver the frozen meats to the stores if clearance was done overnight but he (operator) couldn’t do much and it’s costing my business,” said Visa.
“The people from Bulolo and Menyamya districts use this highway 24 hours and we need machines that can remain on site to work 24 hours. Is this the local contractor or outside contractor which is letting us down?”
Frustrated Visa promised to buy a backhoe next week to be contracted on the site for 24 hours to serve the locals.
The Mobile squad 15 and Bulolo police reservist are on site providing security.