‘Educate children on dangers of playing, swimming in disused ponds’

SIBU: Parents are reminded to monitor their children’s whereabouts during this yearend school holiday and educate them on the dangers of playing or swimming in disused ponds at Sibu Jaya.

Sibu Rural District Council (SRDC) chairman Sempurai Petrus Ngelai gave this reminder after a recent meeting with stakeholders and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in the township regarding water retention ponds, natural ponds and oxidation ponds.

“During the meeting, all agreed that we need short- and longterm solutions to deal with these ponds issue,” he said.

Just this October, a 13-year-old boy who had gone for a swim with eight friends drowned in a pond at Sibu Jaya. Sempurai stated that for the short term, the council will put ‘ No Swimming’ signboards at all existing ponds.

“For natural ponds where the recent incident happened, it was agreed that the said pond would be covered up with earth upon obtaining consent from the land owner as soon as possible.”

He shared that during the meeting, some had suggested the ponds be fenced up but the majority opined that this was not viable as fencing at oxidation ponds had been vandalised and stolen within days after repair or replacement by SRDC.

For the long term, it was agreed that a proper study on the necessity of retention and oxidation ponds is needed while natural ponds would be covered with soil or drained. The study is requested by Land and Survey Department as well as Drainage and Irrigation Department.

On another matter, Sempurai expressed dismay over rampant illegal dumping of household and industrial waste at Bougainvillea shophouse area and Sibu Jaya.

He urged the people to cooperate as SRDC could not solve this issue alone.