CONTINUOUS RAIN CAUSE FLOODING IN LAE, 41 MILE

By Vicky Baunke

COMMUNITIES living around the 41 Mile area in Lae, Morobe Province, along the National Highway approximately 64 kilometres away from Nadzab, are affected by the flood due to continuous heavy rains.

People can hardly go into their home and are being forced to shelter away from their built homes. as most of these areas have become waterlogged and ponding is a common sight when traveling beside the road towards the market.

However, the Metallurgical Coporation of China Limited (MCC) under the Sustainable Highlands Highway Rehabilitation Program ( SHIP) responsible for the Design Rehabilitation and Construction of Bridges Between Nadzab, Lae and Henganofi have intervened.

A team consisting of PMO officers, including Supervision Consultants and the Contractor, Metallurgical Coporation of China (MCC) for the Nadzab to Henganofi Section, did a joint inspection with the locals to discuss possible mitigation and treatment measures,

MCC Project Manager Zhang Meng told this newsroom that after the inspections and consultation, MCC has mobilized necessary machinery with qualified personal to do emergency works to address the issue.

Mr Meng said works is still ongoing to help assist the local community and the market, including other reports on river training and bank formation will also be done to avoid flooding into the local community affecting their livelihoods.

He stated that the river upstream has created a new pathway/channel from its main channel causing excess water into the community and the market with more water entering the new pathway causing increased waterlogged and ponding within the community alongside the main highway.

Mr Meng is appealing to the public and communities near Mutzing, 41 Mile and Maralumi to take extra care during this prolong rainy season and also appealed to the affected communities for their support and patience as the MCC continues work to restore normalcy and assist in relief efforts to the communities.

The flooding and waterlogg begun early this year in February as a result of the continous rain as the MCC progresses to maintain normalcy on the Highway and relief assistance to the affected communities.