FWD: ‘No’ to water plan

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response to water project from the NGOs

 

This article is from thestar.com.my

URL:

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2002/4/14/nation/mgsam & sec=nation

 

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Sunday, April 14, 2002

‘No’ to water plan

PETALING JAYA: The cost of the proposed Pahang-Selangor water transfer scheme is

not justified as there are alternative ways to ensure that Selangor does not

exhaust its water resources by 2008, say the Consumer Association of Penang

(CAP) and Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM).

 

CAP and SAM president S.M. Mohamed Idris said that reducing water wastage and

exploring ground water resources would cost less and be more effective at

ensuring continued water supply to Selangor in the long term.

 

He was responding to a report on Friday quoting Works Minister Datuk Seri S.

Samy Vellu as saying that the Japanese Government would approve a RM3.8bil loan

for the project only if at least five non-governmental organisations (NGOs)

supported the plan.

 

Samy Vellu was also quoted as saying that the project was vital since Selangor

would exhaust its water resources in six years.

 

“The proposed project’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) states that the

water supply would last only until a certain period.

 

“This does not provide a long-term solution to the water shortage problem,”

Mohamed Idris told The Star, , adding that the EIA was inaccurate, inconsistent

and inadequate.

 

Previous reports had revealed that the EIA had failed to address, or addressed

inadequately, the impact of the project on the flora and fauna of the affected

areas.

 

The reports also said that studies that were done had focused only on certain

timber species and vertebrates, ignoring other species, which contributed to the

area’s biodiversity.

 

The project, which would be funded by the Japan Bank for International

Co-operation would involve the construction of a dam across Sungai Kelau in the

east of Bentong and a 45km tunnel beneath the peninsula’s Main Range.

 

Mohamed Idris said the cost of the project would go beyond monetary value – it

would result in the displacement of some 1,300 orang asli and the destruction of

many species of plants and wildlife.

 

The construction of the dam would also flood 4,000ha of forest.

 

“The construction of the 45km tunnel would involve the clearing of more forested

areas, as roads have to be built to transport the machinery and material needed

to tunnel through the Main Range.

 

“To build these roads, they would have to cut through the Hulu Langat and

Lentang Forest Reserves in Selangor and Pahang respectively,” said Mohamed

Idris.

 

He added that the 45km tunnel was a potential danger and could end up being a

disaster, as no one knew what the environmental consequences would be once it

was built.

 

“We urge the Japanese Government to consider our objections before making a

decision,” said Mohamed Idris.

 

He added that they would have to consider taking alternative actions should the

Government go ahead with the project.

 

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