By MORTIMER YANGHARRY
THE remote Maramuni Local Level Government of Wabag District for the first time will see light at the end of a tunnel.
Thanks to the Member for Wabag and Health Minister, Hon. Dr Tom Lino for unlocking this LLG from a prolonged captivity.
Maramuni LLG lies on a strategic economic zone with complex geographical features disqualifying its economic potentials.
However, a divine intervention through the vibrant leadership of Dr Lino has opened up this once inaccessible region for the first time through road connectivity.
Most people will be confused by how the initial construction of this vital road link began.
To reach the Pasalangus government station, the road had to be negotiated through the Maip-Mulitaka LLG of the newly created Paiela-Pogera Open Electorate cutting through deep ravines, gorges and waterways all past untouched area of virgin rainforests that is home to abundant species of plants and animals, some nowhere to be found.
The Wabag District Development Authority (WDDA) with God in its centre of business, prayerfully began initial road construction in early 2018 gradually moving through untouched ‘paradise’ before reaching the Pasalangus government station on September 16, 2021.
The Maramuni LLG that has been geographically isolated for years with its 14 council wards being scattered all over the constituency.
This made it difficult for government services to adequately reach all people concerned but the road network will act as a lifeline for all the wards concerned.
Currently, excavators are continuing the road construction working on the Maramuni-Sepik section of the proposed Enga-Sepik Highway starting from the Pasalangus government station.
The roadwork will pass through Neyauk, Tapend, Hilla, Poreak, Warakom and Penale before reaching Karawari in the Angoram district of the East Sepik province.
The climate at Pasalangus going towards the Sepik Plains is hot and humid just like that in coastal areas with coconuts, betelnut and mustard abundantly grown here that will open up economic activities for the people once these areas are linked by this strategic road network.
The Wabag MP is determined to reach the Sepik Plains as soon as possible where an inland port will be built along the Biwat River in the ESP to open up trade between the Sepik Region and the Western End of the Highlands Region.
It is Minister Tom’s vision to enable the Maramuni LLG to become an economic hub when the Enga-Sepik Highway reaches completion.
Pasalangus government station will be further developed from time to time into a rural township as highlighted in the WDDA developmental plans.
