Little to no maintenance of buildings at the University of Papua New Guinea has resulted in most of its infrastructure being labelled as a time bomb.
It is like a bomb that is ticking and if nothing is done, more incidents like the fire last night will occur.
Vice chancellor Professor Albert Mellam, in issuing the warning today, said the university has been using the “band aid” approach of maintenance over the years with no infrastructure grants given to the institution since he took office.
“We need their support; we are running an institution that has an aged or aging infrastructure and we are seeing red flags popping up in many of our facilities on campus,” Mellam said when making an appeal to the relevant stakeholders and the government to assist.
He said what was witnessed last night on its Waigani campus is a culmination of 50 years of neglect that will need between K50-K60 million to fully rehabilitate.
Following the fire at the first year male dorm yesterday, Professor Mellam said the university should have a plan for sustainable maintenance however, that is not so due to funding constraints.
He said a physical infrastructure audit conducted on the school three years ago pointed clearly to the risk of fire and other related incidents that could come from the aged facilities, both at the Waigani and Taurama campus.
“The audit exercise pointed not only to fire but the possibility of some of the buildings crumbling. On a heavy rainy day, if you come to the library, the bottom part of it usually floods, which weakens the structure.
“Arts 2 building is tilting on one side. We have gone to government to ask for some support in terms of maintenance grant. The last attempt was a plea in January this year.”
Since taking office in 2012, Mellam said unsuccessful requests were made to the government for infrastructure grant.
“We have not received a response from government yet in terms of infrastructure grant. However the government has come to the university’s assistance with a 150-bed space building that will be constructed behind the DMK female hall of residence,” Mellam added.
This will replace the Lasitewa male dormitory that will soon be demolished.
Pro vice chancellor Professor Pulapa Subba Rao said the fire yesterday evening is the third warning of more possible fires the school buildings face due to the ageing materials of the buildings.
In 2012, the Lasitewa building was completely gutted by fire. Early this year, quick action by academic staff prevented the Arts 2 building that houses the Business and Law schools from being burnt when fire started in one of the offices. The Talaigu student hall of residence is the third building that caught fire.
“If we don’t get the grant to maintain the buildings, it will be very difficult for us to sustain,” he said.