El Nino impact

Polye in a statement says the District Services Improvement Programs funds have  been already budgeted for other infrastructure purposes and cannot be used for the drought relief.

He was responding to Finance Minister James Marape’s media release last Friday allowing districts to use K2 million each from DSIP funds which he labelled as a ‘cheap strategy by the government’.

“Besides, we have not even received more than half of the promised K15 million DSIP allocations and here the government is calling for the K2m to be cut from our budget,” says Polye.

In a media tour of Sirinumu Dam today, PNG Power water management officer Laun Medakou advised city residents that there is "no need for panic."

"It (the dam) can cater for the city for the next eight months for hydro to generate power and water,’’ he said.

The current water catchment level stands at 129 million cubic metres.

The dam capacity water level, when full, is 340 million cubic metres.

Mr Laun Medakaou, PNG Power water management officer, told the media in a visit to the dam site today that the current water level stands at 139 million cubic metres.

The full water capacity for the dam is 340 million cubic metres.

He said that PNG Power and water provider Eda Ranu have a verbal agreement  stating that when the water level drops to 100 million cubic metres, PNG Power will stop using the water catchment to generate electricity and the water will be used only by Eda Ranu to supply water to the city.

Panuselu villagers received 64 bags of rice and 1400 litres of water shipped from Lorengau yesterday.

Group administrator Bap Korup said it was a successful appeal for a village of about 400 people.

"I would like to thank Coastal Fuel Lorengau for donation of fuel, and the Port Moresby Institute of Matriculation (PIMS)  for initiating the donations when the appeal was made. Many members of the group chipped in after that,’’ he said.

This was the announcement made by Finance Minister James Marape after the National Executive Council gave its approval.

Marape says the districts will now be the point for coordinating relief supplies for those affected.

He says the districts are closer to the people and response would be much quicker.

“This will also avoid the layers of public service process that delay response to disasters like this,” he says.

The government has also given a Certificate of Inexpediency which will allow districts to get relief supplies from the following business houses

According to Mr Knight Mr Meauri  will be visiting hard hit areas of Manus like the Baluan, Pak and Rambutso islands.

Knight says Meauri will also bring  relief funds.

He says after their visit to various islands they will return to Lorengau for the first meeting of the District Development Authority.

 Knight made arrangements with local businesses houses in Lorengau town for relief supplies however he is still waiting the Provincial administrator approval.

The Administrator is understood to be out of the province at this time.