Because of the poor work quality, the second phase of the multi-million kina Lae Port Tidal Basin has been suspended. According to State Enterprises Minister Sasindra Muthuvel, they will now move on to the third phase.
“The third phase has now being brought in as the second phase is said to be the Huon Industrial hub or the Lae Tidal hub,” he said. “They were supposed to have removed at least one or two meters of topsoil, instead the contract was prepared and even agreed by the contractors in such a way that they only backfilled the road where cars and vehicles can pass through living the rest of the area because they said it is like a swamp.”
He said that the developer is in charge of building the warehouses or industries but the ports have said it was supposed to be a port standard and the area was supposed to be backfilled also.
“I don’t know whether the contractors are taking the matter to any arbitration of work but it’s completely stalled and we are still waiting for them to respond on the technical queries,” Minister Muthuvel said. “This, however, is a Chinese Exim-funded project and has been suspended based on the quality of work and the difference in contractor’s actual eagerness only to fix the roads leading to the industrial development area.
