Sewage leakage in a Lae City community are affecting the operations of a clinic, a primary school and is becoming a general health hazard for residents.
A Water PNG facility used to pump waste from three tin fish processing facilities in Malahang had spilled over during maintenance, and is flowing through an open drainage causing the stench.
Butibum Clinic sits opposite the drain, where much of the waste and stench comes from these three fish processing plants.
The officer in charge refused to speak on camera, but she did say attempts were being made to advise authorities.
All the waste comes through a pipe managed by Water PNG, and although work has been done to fix the technical problem, there is still sewage sitting in the drain.
“I can’t draw funds to fix the problem, with the current state of government, but I am calling on water png to help,” says Ahi Ward Two Councillor, Pokang Kising.
“It’s a small problem that we can work together to solve, community leaders and water png,” says Ahi Ward four Councilor, Ezikiel Gawi.
The waste also floods onto the Butibum Primary School grounds when it rains. Teachers houses are affected, students get infections and the school has closed down many times.
“We send students home, I tried to get the Health Inspector, but he says it’s a long process,” says Manase James, Butibum Primary School teacher.
The Butibum Clinic is less than 10 metres away from the drain, and when it floods, it spills over to the yard. Just recently gravel was added to assist the stop of the flow.
A senior executive of Water PNG, Wallis Pingin, says the facility in Butibum has been fixed the sewage water are just remains of the maintenance.
He also confirmed that there were landowner issues, but they’ve addressed it, with the help of senior statesman Sir Nagora Bogan.
Another executive at one of the fish processing plants in Malahang that processes both tuna and mackerel has told EMTV that they pay fees to ensure their waste is managed by Water PNG.
