Penans given a choice

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LOCATION OF DAMS: The map of existing and proposed HEP dam sites in the state.

Govt engaging affected people in a new approach to deal with social impact of dam construction

KUCHING: The people affected by the RM3.5 billion Murum Hydro Electric
Power (HEP) dam are now given the option to choose where they wanted to be resettled.

This was disclosed by Second Minister of Planning and Resource management Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hassan to The Borneo Post Tuesday.

“We are giving the more than1,000 Penans affected by the Murum Dam the choice to re-settle
either at Matalun or Tegulan, both of which are located at the catchment areas,” he said.

He added this new approach in dealing with the social impact of the construction of HEP dams by engaging the people affected was the result of lessons learnt from the construction of the Batang Ai and Bakun dams.

Awang Tengah who is also the Minister of Public Utilities added that though the dam was slightly behind schedule, he was optimistic that it would be completed by end of 2013.

Murum HEP has a capacity of producing some 944 megawatt of power.

It is located some 70km upstream of Bakun Dam.

Works on the dam started on October 1, 2008.

The impoundment of the Murum HEP is expected to be carried out by June 1, 2012. The whole project is expected to be completed by end of 2013.

“As for the Baleh HEP Dam, the government is now doing the feasibility studies. It has a potential to produce 1,000 megawatt of electricity,” he added.

Though Awang Tengah did now specifically mention the flaws in the relocation of  communities  affected by  the Batang Ai, Bakun and Bengoh Dams, it is of public knowledge that those affected were unhappy with the amount of compensation and the area where they were resettled.

Sarawak is expected to produce some 20,000 megawatts of electricity from 10 HEP dams by 2030.

Among the dams which will be constructed are Pelagus, Linau and Belepeh dams in Kapit Division; Baram HEP Dam in Miri Division and Limbang and Lawas HEP dams in Limbang Division.

Except for Bengoh which was built as reservoir, the rest are meant for power supply.