NEC approves K13m for SHP

By ISAAC NICHOLAS

THE National Executive Council has approved the release of K13 million for the relief of major road infrastructure in the flood-stricken areas of Southern Highlands Province.
The Department of Works has also provided K5 million to start work in restoring some smaller bridges and foot-crossings across the flooded Yalo River (Seven Corner) in the Kagua Erave district.
Chief Secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc, who visited the flood- stricken disaster areas of Ialibu-Pangia and Kagua Erave, said four bridges, at Mapele, Pale, Kendal and the main Yalo River bridge, have been washed away.
Mr Zurenuoc said the three bridges link feeder roads to main provincial roads of the province, while the Yalo River bridge is the main link between Kagua-Erave and Ialibu-Pangia.
He said the Mapele crossing has been restored and the Kandel bridge will be restored by today (Friday). Pale bridge will take time as an excavator has to be moved into the area to assist with restoring a crossing.
Mr Zurenuoc said the Yalo River (Seven Corner) bridge will take time as it is the longest, with a span of over 40 metres, and will need a lot of work.
“However I am pleased to report that when I was in Mt Hagen, I talked with the Works Department , who have identified some bridge components and it will take more than 3-4 days to
move the parts into the area to start work on restoring Yalo Bridge.”
As work on the main Yalo bridge will take some time, Mr Zurenuoc is urging the people of Kagua Erave to use the Kagua-Mendi road, which is a round trip to Mendi and back towards Mt Hagen, for government services and business and trade.
Mr Zurenouc has commended Imbonggu MP and Works Minister Francis Awesa for keeping the Kagua-Erave road in good condition, making it easier for the national government in such situation.
He said the Yalo River has more than nine footbridge crossings that were washed out by the floods,
This was because people living on one side of the river cross to go to schools and churches on the other side of the river.
He said footbridge experts now in Mendi will be going into the affected areas to restore the nine washed out bridges.
Mr Zurenouc and Works Department engineers also attended to PNG customary obligations by helping with some money at the “haus krai’ of relatives of those who lost their lives.
The Chief Secretary got approvals from the local people with his comments that the disaster was not caused by him or the government but by God at his own timing and nobody should be blamed for the natural disaster.
Mr Zurenuoc, after his comments, was allowed free access.
The local people also gave assurances that they would not hamper the restoration work which will be conducted over the next