Jonglei has no funds for Bor town survey – minister
By Philip Thon Aleu
February 27, 2008 (BOR, Jonglei) — Government of Jonglei has no money or source of loan to fund roads demarcation in Bor town, minister of Local government and Law Enforcement has said. Meanwhile town residents remain in carpet or grass made tents, making living conditions very difficult and town less attractive.
Deputy governor Hassan Mar, also the minister of Local government, told audience invited for dinner by Nile Commercial Bank (NCB) that “the bank is empty and government has no other of loan” on Sunday February 24 at Diamdiam hotel, Bor town. “There is no source to borrow money and demarcation of roads in Bor town is therefore very difficult,” he said.
To survey Bor town was put a priority last year, by the state government, but it efficiency rises doubts about the plan. People dwelling in the town then retorted to building temporally huts locally known as Tonton or Rakuba. This makes Bor town ‘more of village’ then expected, residents says.
Since Governor Kuol Manyang took Jonglei highest post in December 2007, his position as far the survey remain unclear. “I do not blame John Amuor (minister of land and physical infrastructure) for this slow move to survey the town. Neither do I blame those who resist displacement from their homes,” he said referring to those who refuse leaving plots given to others during one the rallies he addressed.
The governor also says “there is no need to refuse when road or a public place displaces you from your home,” a message interpreted as allowing one staying at his plot, so long as there are no such incidents.
A fee is paid to obtain a plot. Majority of the non-employees says it’s favoring the working class and buying of land. Government call it ‘facilitation.’ This has caused a lot of questions in the system, subsiding poor living conditions pre-survey.
However, on Tuesday February 26, a team from the ministry of Land and Physical Infrastructure entitled plots to returnees, and others who had non, at unoccupied part of Hai Tura, a Bor town suburb. This may be U-turn to the norm (what the majority wanted). Any continuity of the recent procedure, where empty plots are given to the needy, and one already occupied left for while, will be especially welcomed, Majok Ayuen, a Bor town resident said.
Should inadequate funding, for hiring bull dozers and other facilitations, be cause of the slow survey, most of the people promised to build better houses on ‘surveyed or non surveyed’ plots.
(ST)