By Bridgette Komatep – EM TV, Port Moresby
The Nipa District, in the Southern Highlands Province, can be described as a sleeping township that has awoken from its slumber.
The sight of infrastructure development, construction of public servants houses, a new improved District Treasury Office and a Chamber house, are all new in this colonial township.
Under the leadership of local MP, Jeffrey Komal, an eviction exercise was carried out in November last year, prior to the start of construction works. The people were sent back to their villages in order to free up state land for development.
MP Komal told them that he was serious about developing the districts. Through this exercise, Nipa became the first district, besides the National Capital District (NCD), to reclaim all state properties.
Notable changes include new houses for public servants. So far five have been completed with 40 more to follow at the cost of K2 million.
Other major developments include the three-leveled district hospital complex, jointly funded by the provincial government and the district, at the cost of over K50 million.
Also in the plan for Nipa is the construction of power pylons to supply electricity to the district from the main electricity supply in Mendi.
While, the district has only recently seen changes, it has been declared as one of the “leading districts” in Southern Highlands through the implementation of road projects through the Joint District Planning and Budget Priorities Committee, now known as District Development Authorities.
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