Yonki station on State land, says Koiri

THE Yonki hydro-power station in Eastern Highlands province is built on State land, PNG Power acting chief executive officer Tony Koiri said yesterday.
Mr Koiri said in a statement that landowners should be mindful of a National Court restraining order and not to issue unwarranted threats against the company because they would be in violation of the court order.
“The court order, issued on March 5, 2007, is still valid, therefore, we appeal to the landowners to use peaceful means of bringing their grievances to the attention of authorities.
“The court order also declares the land on which the Ramu hydro-power station was built as State land and no further compensation claims for the land should be made,” he said.
Mr Koiri was responding to an ultimatum from the Arona Landowners Association chairman Ralph Gurah to the Government last Friday to respond to their submission by Oct 19.
Mr Gurah claimed in his submission for K255 million for his people saying this was based on realistic figures and conventional calculation methods and having gone through all the due government consultation processes.
He said the people of Yonki felt neglected and cheated by the Government and that their demand was fair compensation for the neglected benefits for the past 39 years without benefiting.