FWD: NGOs want access to Bakun dam project site

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Sunday, May 12, 2002

NGOs want access to Bakun dam project site

By STEPHEN THEN

 

MIRI: Non-governmental organisations handling environmental and community

welfare issues have urged the Sarawak government and the developer of the RM9bil

Bakun hydro-electric dam project to grant them unhindered access to the project

site.

 

Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) co-ordinator for Sarawak Thomas Jalong said it was

vital for the authorities to allow independent bodies and groups to scrutinise

the development of the project from close range.

 

There have been reports that longhouse dwellers and some people in Bakun and

Belaga town have evacuated to higher ground following widespread fear of massive

flooding caused by a surge in the water level at the dam site.

 

“SAM wants to monitor the construction at close range, especially now when the

construction of the cofferdam (to create a dry area for the erection of the

200m-high main dam) is at the crucial stage.”

 

The authorities should allow unhindered access to the site to keep the public

updated on the matter, he said.

 

Jalong said SAM was trying to get the latest information on what happened and

was trying to contact the affected villagers.

 

He said it was very difficult to get in touch with the villagers because some

had left their settlements out of fear.

 

“According to some of our sources on the ground, the river-level (at Sungai

Balui where the dam is being erected) is still very high. We were told that the

pressure upriver was still very strong and that a lot of timber debris had

flowed downstream,’’ he said.

 

Another group involved in environment and native community issues, Borneo

Resources Institute, also expressed concern over the latest scare in Bakun.

 

Institute co-ordinator Raymond Abin said some villagers had claimed that the

surge in the water level at the river had caused some damage to the project

site.

 

Belaga state assemblyman Stanley Ajang yesterday briefed Energy,

Telecommunications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Amar Leo Moggie on the latest

situation in Bakun.

 

“I informed him of the people’s concern and have updated him on what is

happening. The district officer and project developers are still at the site to

monitor the situation,” he said.

 

Ajang will fly to Bakun today to meet the various parties involved in the

project and also visit the locals.

 

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