ERP for Bengoh Dam in place, assures Dr Rundi
KUCHING: An emergency response plan ( ERP) for Bengoh Dam is in place and ready to be activated in the very unlikely event of an emergency situation at the dam, assured Minister of Utilities Dato Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom.
He said the residents living around the dam would be briefed on the plan in the fi rst quarter of next year.
“The emergency infrastructure works are current ly under pl anning s t age . Kuching Water Board wi l l activate a Whatsapp group involving all the stakeholders to share on information concerning the water release status of the dam on a regular basis from January 2018,” he said.
He also mentioned that an external emergency response drill will be carried out in April 2018 for the four kampungs nearest to the dam and further details will be advised through close coordination with the Resident Office including Padawan District Office.
“The emergency response drill for the remaining kampungs and schools will be carried out in stages in 2018.
“These emergency response plans wi l l be reviewed and updated from t ime to t ime to suit changing situations and circumstances, such as relocation of a school or increase in the number of kampungs. The documents will be made available for viewing and reading at Kuching Water Board’s Office,” he said.
Dr Rundi made these remarks in response to a Borneo Post news headlined ‘Utilities Ministry must reveal emergency response plan for Bengoh Dam’ published on Wednesday,
He a lso stressed that the Ministry of Utilities Sarawak has issued several statements on Bengoh dam and will continue to keep the general public updated whenever new information is available.
Based on the report by the dam’s design consultant expert and contractor, he said the Ministry would like to assure that the Bengoh Dam is technically and structurally sound and stable.
“The Ministry will also get a third party peer reviewer on the dam,” he assured.
On Wednesday, PKR Puncak Borneo branch cha i rman Willie Mongin called on the Ministry of Utilities to reveal the Bengoh Dam ERP to the public, particularly the villagers living along the downstream of the dam.
This was to ensure the villagers are aware of the circumstances and work together with the authorities to prepare and put in the place the necessary ERP.
Concerns were raised on the Bengoh Dam after seepages were seen on the downstream face of the dam.