RIVERS RUN DRY AND CONTAMINATED DUE TO EL NINO IN SHP

BY SAMUEL RAITANO

RIVERS are running dry and water is being contaminated with algae in many parts of Southern Highlands Province, due to El Nino.

Water scarcity is now becoming a real problem for some villages and government stations as water tanks, creeks and groundwater sources run dry.

Towns like Mendi, Walum,Pangia, Ialibu and Kagua along with other stations in the province do not have water supply systems and the prolonged dry season is set to adversely affect public servants, public institutions and the ordinary citizens as well.

Southern Highlands Provincial Administrator David Kelma is understood to have instructed all District Administrations to do assessment and submit reports immediately to be delivered to the National Disaster Centre and relevant authorities.

In Sugu Valley of Kagua Erave District, Sugu River that used to run fresh has also been reduced in size and now contaminated with algae according to sources on ground.

And in Ialibu Pangia District, renowned Polu River that flows from Mt Ialibu has been reduced to a creek, according to local, Wendeka Aipu from Maia village, East Pangia.

Other big rivers in the province are also reduced in size to levels people say they have never seen in past dry seasons.

Food gardens are also getting dry, indicating a looming threat of hunger in many areas prone to frost.