KENINGAU: Residents from 33 villages in Bingkor area numbering in the thousands are asking Chief Minister Datuk Seri Musa Aman to use his good office to issue a directive to relocate the site of the proposed water intake project to the original site at Ulu Bayoyo River bordering the Crocker Range Park as originally proposed by the populace.
“We strongly protest the action of the director of the State Water Department to continue building the water intake at the Bandukan Recreation Park in Bingkor. The action is indicative of the contractor making easy short cuts without considering the long-term welfare of the thousands of residents in Bingkor who depend solely on agricultural products over the past decade.
“The protest action committee of the water supply intake project site location at a meeting held in Bandukan Recreation Park on February 20 had raised a protest against the department concerned for continuing the project in the park area,” said committee chairman Gonius Angkangon, representing the residents from 33 villages in Bingkor area here yesterday.
Speaking to The Borneo Post here, Gonius said the reasons given by the director of State Water Department in a letter dated February 7 are considered illogical and absurd.
Among the reasons given by the department were:
Based on a study conducted by the consultant found that the proposed intake is the most suitable for the construction of the water intake because the river bend impacts on the optimum volume of water into the intakes;
That the condition of the river bank in the area was very stable consisting of layers of hard rocks that are needed to build the water intake and prevent soil erosion from weakening the structure built at the water intake site, and;
That the other suitable area is located four miles from the original location. If the location of water intake site is moved it would cause substantial financial implications such as the construction of access roads, higher capacity electricity connection, additional pipe bends, require a lot of individual land acquisition and the large environmental impact.
The letter also stated that the concern of the village head over water quality due to presence of pesticide residues in the river from agricultural activities carried out in the upper section of the river would not be a big problem as the water quality is constantly monitored and treated and would be safe for drinking by consumers in the Keningau district.
Gonius described the reasons given by the department concerned as giving more suffering to thousands of people living in the 33 villages in Bingkor in the long-term period if the site continues to be built in the park area.
“With respect to the reasons mentioned in the letter, ‘river bend impact on the optimum volume of water into the water intakes’, if this was to take place, the entire population of this village is worried that there will be shortage of water flow to the Bingkor area paddy fields involving the 33 villages. The department should consider constructing for the water intake site a large dam in Ulu Bayoyo River bordering the Crocker Range Park,” he said.
“On the matter of the water intake site being very stable, this should not be raised because there are a lot of engineering methods that can be applied to any construction works to overcome this problem,” he continued.
As for the significant financial implications, he said this also should not be raised because the implementation of the project would provide long-term benefits to all parties, especially Bingkor residents and the whole of Keningau. Even the cost of RM250 million allocation as announced by the Prime Minister for this project is more than adequate for the water intake site to be built in the Crocker Range Park.
According to him, to stick to the original proposed site also has the availability of a better road that is well travelled and comfortable.
Gonius disclosed that it was decided at the meeting to lodge a strong protest for the water intake site to be built in the Bandukan Recreation park, because based on the original proposal, which the people learnt earlier, the site is located at the border of the Crocker Range Park and not at the park. Thus, the relocation of the site is a shock to the entire population and is strongly objected to.
“We also considered that if the construction of this project is continued in the park, some of the implications to the population would be water supply to the paddy fields and fish ponds around Bingkor area would be affected, the area of the recreational park would become too narrow, there would be no guarantee on the quality of water due to extensive use of herbicides and insecticides, fertilizers and other chemical substances by oil palm activities from the upper section of the river.
“The park that previously was able to attract visitors as a project of Keningau District Council, the Tagal River program initiated several years until today, the side income of residents who open food and drinks stalls, the development progress of the park where some individuals have and are pursuing the lodging houses and other basic facilities including requirement and park landscape would be grossly affected,” he said.
Gonius said the department’s actions would also affect the recommendations by Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun who identified the park as a potential for development of tourism industry in the Keningau district.
It would also affect the value of the land around the park, but if it is moved to the original place in Ulu Bayoyo river, efforts to improve infrastructure and all basic facilities can guarantee the value of the land will improve.
He said that the committee at the meeting unanimously agreed that this protest be submitted to the District Officer to be forwarded to the Chief Minister. They also agreed that the Water Department should resolve this protest before the 13th general election.
Gonius said a letter of protest dated February 22 has been sent to the Chief Minister for his further action. He said the content of the letter sought the intervention of the Chief Minister to resolve this problem for the benefit of all parties.
“We are not protesting this project but instead request that the water intake site location be moved to Ulu Bayoyo River bordering the Crocker Range Park as the Bingkor residents’ original proposal.
The 33 villages that made the protest are Kampung Bandukan Lama, Bunsit, Tangkongan, Minansut, Naidat, Kamansi, Lipasu, Kuangoh, Berungis, Narupot, Gana, Bingkor Lama, Lingawon, Bingkor Baru, Labak Awas-Awas, Labak Baru, Binaong, Baginda Ulu , Tigot, Kota Ayangan, Buang Sayang, Tuntumulud, Sandapak, Singga Mata, Alab Pintas, Sasaie, Bandukan Baru, Jaya Baru, Bayangan, Antolob, Skim Bumburing and Kampung Baru.