WATER PNG has advised that the planned partial shutdown of the water supply to Port Moresby for critical repairs will be delayed after Behori landowners blockaded access to the work site, demanding a K5.5 million payment.
On behalf of the Board and Management of Water PNG, Chairman Meckles Poya has confirmed that Behori landowners built a barricade to block engineers from undertaking planned repairs to the Rouna 1/3 pipeline.
“Behori landowners have blockaded access to the damaged pipeline, preventing engineers from beginning critical repairs for the city as scheduled on Friday,” Chairman Poya said.”
“The blockade is a frustrating development after Water PNG had worked closely with the Behori landowners since the leak was discovered. As part of this cooperation, Behori landowners were paid half a million Kina to prepare an access road to the damaged area, for workers to dig drainage channels and for other employment tasks.”
“This blockade and the threats have to stop in the interests and greater good of all people in Port Moresby, as they have the right of access to water and sanitation. We are all in this together, and people around the capital city are preparing and supporting Water PNG to get in and fix this problem.”
“The partial shutdown had been scheduled for 31 July to 2 August, and across the city, people and business houses, institutions had made plans to manage their water usage during the rationing period. However, this blockade is creating great uncertainty and throws all preparations for a shutdown into limbo.”
“Hospitals have delayed elective surgery, hotel reservations have declined, and there are further impacts on schools and big and small businesses, as well as more pressure on Police resources.”
Chairman Poya said that while permission from Behori landowners is not legally required for Water PNG to access water pipeline infrastructure, Water PNG is looking for a peaceful resolution to the blockade.
“The National Water Supply and Sanitation Act is clear that Water PNG has full authority to access the pipeline. This is critical infrastructure providing water and sewage services to almost a million people around Port Moresby and Central Province.
“The last resort for the Government is to apply the Essential Services Act for Police to enforce the law and break the blockade in order to protect this vital national infrastructure.
However, Water PNG wants common sense and respect to prevail.”
“Water PNG has undertaken meticulous planning and already delayed the repairs so that additional equipment and expertise can be brought in to ensure the success of the repair work, but this blockade is now placing Port Moresby at needless additional risk.”
“With preparations now in place, each passing day means that another 10 million litres of water is lost, and the threat of substantial pipeline failure increases. If the pipeline collapses, Port Moresby will be under severe rationing for months to come into the El Niño period, so we have to begin the repairs without further delay.”
“For more than six decades, the Behori people have lived alongside this pipeline without ever causing or threatening disruption to the water supply to Port Moresby, and we appreciate the long-standing support they have offered to Water PNG. We look forward to a peaceful and amicable solution to this situation.”
“Water PNG will continue to keep the public and businesses up to date as additional information becomes available on this critical issue.”