Villagers want compo from Kumalu River

By PISAI GUMAR
COMMUNITIES along the Kumalu River, in Mumeng, Bulolo district, Morobe, have claimed compensation from the provincial government for negligence over destruction caused to their livelihood by the river.
They claimed the river washed away their fresh food and cash crop gardens and was threatening to wash away
the village.
Deputy administrator district services Patilias Gamato and National Planning and Monitoring Minister and Bulolo MP Sam Basil yesterday  stood in on behalf of the Governor Luther Wenge to receive their petition.
Basil said among the seven issues raised, two were technical issues for which a hydrologist would be engaged to verify after further findings conducted into the river systems and current while the other was administrative matter that Gamato would deal with it.
He said on the compensation claim, nature was the cause of the disaster.
Basil said with the highway the economic corridor, “government will look at fixing deteriorating sections of the highway”.
The government had allocated K14 million for a Kumalu by-pass road.
The joint district planning and budget priorities committee will buy an excavator for Kumalu and Pamelambus villages who will unite under Kumubapa Holdings.
Gamato said no human could control the forces of nature.
“But I will do what is best to help the affected communities based on available resources,” Gamato said.