The river in Kapit is so clogged with thrown away logs that the river transport has almost ground to a halt-watch video here and here.Everyone can see it-yet the CM in Kuching can’t. The CM approved the logging licenses -making money for all parties involved, leaving the local residents to face the problems of a clogged river. What a shame! Update: the logs are reportedly reaching Sibu within a day!(see 2nd report below)
Friday October 8, 2010
River disaster hits Sarawak
By PHILIP HII
philiphii@thestar.com
SIBU: A major environmental disaster is unfolding in the state, as kilometre after kilometre of logs and wood debris flow down the Rajang.
It was believed that heavy rain in the upper reaches of Balleh River – a tributary of the Rajang – had caused landslides at log ponds of a major timber camp and brought down the logs and wood debris.
Kapit businessman Tay Hock Joo, who telephoned The Star in Sibu yesterday evening, said nobody in Kapit had ever seen such an occurrence before.
He said the residents first noticed the debris at about 1pm.
River transport was cut off when logs and debris started filling the entire width of the river by 4pm.
At 7.30pm, the debris was reported to have reached Song and was expected to hit Sibu early in the morning.
Sibu residents are worried by the extent of damage the logs and wood debris would cause to their properties such as jetties and boats.
“We are also worried whether the foundation of the Durin and Lanang bridges are strong enough to withstand the pressure,” said Sibu resident Simon Ting.
Meanwhile, several government officials said the authorities were unprepared for such an incident as it had never happened before and they also did not have the capacity to stop the wood from flowing downstream towards Sibu.
I myself witness this unusual phenomena at Sibu Wharf with many curious people that never seen such kind of human made disasters to our river and environment. The local people are the one who are suffering by this greedy Timber Co. & BN Government who rob us & cause us to suffer the consequent of what thy BN call in the name of Development by CM.
– Rakyat sendiri melihat akibat bencana daripada masalah/kesusahan/penderitaan yang dilakukan oleh Kerajaan terhadap kayu kayan & Tanah NCRland kita di musnahkn & Air Sungai kita dicemari. Sampai bilakah perkara masalah seperti ini akan dibiarkan terjadi begini….