Works urges landowners to take grievances to state

THE Morobe Department of Works (DOW) has urged landowners of a section of the Bulolo-Menyamya Highway to negotiate with the state instead of disrupting construction and maintenance work.
Provincial Works manager Samson Apai called on landowners from Sim old airstrip to Kol Mountain to consult the department on their grievances and not to resort to stopping roadwork.
Apai said the majority of people in the area were happy with the roadwork taking place while few were disrupting work with compensation claims.
He said people had to understand that DOW as the responsible department of the government was bringing development into their community through roads.
He said with proper road links, other services like education, health and business would follow to develop their community.
“Unnecessary disruptions are bad for development in any community,” he said.
Apai was responding to The National’s follow up on a K3 million compensation claim from a local landowner.
Landowner Paul Taninao demanded the DOW stopped work and address their land compensation demand of K3 million before continuing with road construction.
Taninao called for compensation for environmental damage before work continues.
However, DoW manager Apai said they wanted to discuss the issue with him and other landowners to let road works continue.