MIRI – Thousands of remote villagers living in central Sarawak in the upper reaches of the massive Bakun Dam have been cut off from the outside world as their rivers are choked with tonnes of timber debris.
The massive logjams are blocking Sg Balui River and its tributaries, located in the upper section of the RM15 billion hydro-dam in the Belaga district.
The Vibes has obtained information from residents in the area that the rivers are not passable for boats as they are clogged with logs and wood debris stretching kilometres.
Belaga social activist Harry Wing said this is true, and that many residents have been cut off.
“Yes, the logjams are happening again. There are at least six major riverine settlements affected,” he said.
Among the most populated settlements to be hit is Long Busang. The others are Long Jawe, Long Ayak, Naha Jalei, Batu Keling Naha Nyabong and Sang Anau.
“Villagers in these areas dare not use the rivers as the floating logs make it dangerous,” Harry said.
On where the log debris is coming from, he said that are being pushed down from the upper sections of Sg Balui by swift river currents from logging zones in the upper reaches.
“Urgent measures must be taken to clear these floating logs,” he said. “There are thousands of these logs in the rivers, making navigation very dangerous.”
The Bakun Dam is one of the three biggest dams in central Sarawak. The others are Murum Dam and Baleh Dam, which is still under construction.
The last major logjam incident prior to occurred on August 22 this year along Sg Baleh.
That logjam also saw a long stretch of the river choked up for about two weeks before efforts were taken by the local authorities and Sarawak River Board to clear the logs. – The Vibes pic, October 13, 2021
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