BY YOMBI KEP

Irate landowners of the Gunina clan from Hanuabada village, Moresby Northwest, yesterday forced a stop to work on the construction of the 4.7km four-lane road connecting Tokarara via the Koura Way.

The Motuan landowners took the action on the nearly finished works by the China Harbour Engineering Company Limited saying they were unhappy with their benefits, including connection with the city’s water supply.

They said they had been overlooked by the state and the project developer, National Capital District Commission.

According to the landowners’ spokesman, Tony Reid, National Capital District Commission had engaged developer Curtain Bros to construct the road 18 years ago with the promise to deliver water, but had failed to do so to this day for residents on the hills above the village.

“It was part of the deal for the construction of the Hanuabada bypass, but still we don’t have a water supply into our village,” Mr Reid said.

The K80.2 million road construction contract to the Koura Way intersection contract has now been awarded to the Chinese construction company, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited, prompting the landowners to insist that the Chinese must fulfill the earlier promise about the water, among other benefits.

“Since the project had started, we hadn’t received any water,” Mr Reid said. “The construction will not start until we have running water,” he added.

“We want to see water pipes delivered by Eda Ranu, then we would allow construction of the roads to be completed. They gave us assurance, but we want action,” said Mr Reid. He said all the clan members who are still fetching water from main Hanuabada village, about one kilometer away across the road.

NCDC engineers are not aware of the contract done 18 years ago for water connection to houses above Hanuabada where the bypass is.

They said they were, however, aware of placing three major crossings.

Governor Powes Parkop has instructed the engineers to come up with a plan B option to solve the standoff with the villagers.