S’wak Hidro all set to clean up floating debris
KUCHING: Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd ( SHSB) is all set to clean up the debris once it reaches the 20km radius of Bakun Dam and it is also looking into the possibility of cleaning it up further upstream before the debris reaches the designated radius.
Its chief executive officer Zulkifle Osman said the company had been looking into the log jam issue and was making preparation, such as transportation of machinery as well as looking into suitable sites to deposit the debris.
“We do have a site ready within 20km radius of Bakun Dam. There is no problem for us once the debris reaches our area. We are all set to remove the debris and we know
We do have a site ready within 20km radius of Bakun Dam. There is no problem for us once the debris reaches our area. We are all set to remove the debris and we know where to put them after we have removed them from the river.
where to put them after we have removed them from the river,” he said when contacted yesterday.
He, however, said if the company were to remove the debris further upstream, there would be difficulties in identifying a site to dispose of the debris.
“We are seriously looking into the possibility of removing it further upstream. However, there are situations we have to overcome first. This includes how to transport the machinery and where to place the debris when we have removed it from the river.
“We are talking about tonnes and tonnes of bulky debris. When we have removed them from the river, where should we put them? We cannot simply put them anywhere as the land might belong to someone. We will need a big place to deposit the debris. This is among issues we have to look into,” Zulkifle said.
He added the company was ready for such a situation because it was a recurring problem.
“We are fully aware of it. This kind of problem will always be there. Once there is a heavy downpour, the debris will be washed down into the river. We will clean it up and we know it will happen again,” he said.
Zulkifle was responding to comments from Assistant Minister for River Transportation and Safety Liwan Lagang who held the view that SHSB and Sarawak Energy Berhad should foot the bills to clean up the 30km-stretch of log jam in the upper reaches of Balui River.
Liwan’s rational was that the two companies which have been tapping revenue from the river and Bakun Dam should pay for the cost incurred since both are making profit out of the river.
The Belaga assemblyman who had just gone to the ground to check on the log jam said the debris had been affecting the livelihood of the people of Long Jawie and Long Busang as it had made the stretch of river impossible to navigate.
Logdebris hasbeenaccumulating along the Balui River and part of Bakun Reservoir, posing potential dangers to river users as well as Bakun dam.
The log debris area stretches over 30km in Balui River, with the biggest volume at Long Jawie area, and has been accumulating since 2011.
The log debris between 120 and 150km away from Bakun Dam is said to be caused by previous logging activities further upstream. The log debris is later brought down to the Balui River by the rain.
Zulkifle Osman, Sarawak Hidro Sdn Bhd (SHSB) chief executive officer