Tribal chief raps govt

 By ELIAS LARI

WESTERN Highlands tribal chief Michael Pundia has condemned the national government for failing to properly maintain the Highlands Highway.

Pundia was commenting after the national highway was cut off at Waigar and Kaukau Market in Kerowagi district, Chimbu, by a landslide last Saturday morning.

He said the government was offering a lot of lip service on the maintenance of the highway.

“Too many successive governments never take the highway seriously and it’s a total failure,” he said.

“The Highlands Highway is a vital service provider and now it is in a massive shocking state of affairs and in dire need of heavy duty all-weather sealing, proper water drainage system, double bridges and sign boards.” 

He said businesses and the lives of ordinary people were affected.

“The question now is what happens if the highway is closed indefinitely by landowners demanding compensation or a massive natural disaster happens again? 

“What is the government’s plan B in providing alternative for delivering goods and services to the highlands region?”

Pundia said the public, business community and the country were in panic mode.

He said the soil in Chimbu was unstable and posed serious threat and some of these disasters were contributed by the climate change. Recent heavy rain in the area was the major factor for the disaster.  

“These new roads have to be constructed by reputable international companies with track records,” he said.