KUCHING: Detailed feasibility studies of river basins are currently being undertaken for the 12 proposed dams in Sarawak, Assistant Minister of Public Utilities Sylvester Entri said yesterday.
Entri told the state legislative assembly that the move was to ensure that no hydro projects were carried out within the World Heritage Site as such projects could lead to the delisting of the site.
Entri said any decision on the dams would be based on the findings of the detailed feasibility studies, which covered the technical, financial and environmental aspects.Sarawak has one World Heritage Site — the Gunung Mulu National Park — covering an area of 54,864 hectares.
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“The government assures that the areas within the world heritage site will not be affected by the projects,” he said in reply to Dominique Ng (Padungan- PKR) who asked if the government would abandon the construction of the proposed dams, which like the Bakun dam, “would similarly be extravagant and unnecessary.” Source: Edge Daily
You can't blame anyone for being sceptical about the detailed feasibility studies given the opaque nature in which the Sarawak Government operates.
The concern is very much on:
1. Environmental impact of the dams construction.
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2. Displacement of the native communities in the affected areas.
3. Environmental impact of the proposed giant aluminium smelting operations that will use the electricity generated. See my post on this here.
4. The effectiveness of SCORE on the overall economic welfare of Sarawakians.
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These issues must be addressed head on by the Sarawak Government opening itself for open consultations and dialogues with ALL Sarawakians including Opposition parties.
Taib and Company should take the cue from Raja Nazrin's speech delivered in Taib's presence, unless he chooses to be deaf and pretends that Raja Nazrin was only speaking to the people in Semenanjung, Kuching being only the venue for the speech.
It is reported that Raja Nazrin had said that to strengthen integrity, the Rulers shall hold consultations and negotiations, gather opinions and be open minded to assess each advice rationally, objectively and fairly.
This principle of CONSULTATION should apply to all governments, especially the Sarawak Government.
Entri told the state legislative assembly that the move was to ensure that no hydro projects were carried out within the World Heritage Site as such projects could lead to the delisting of the site.
Entri said any decision on the dams would be based on the findings of the detailed feasibility studies, which covered the technical, financial and environmental aspects.Sarawak has one World Heritage Site — the Gunung Mulu National Park — covering an area of 54,864 hectares.
.“The government assures that the areas within the world heritage site will not be affected by the projects,” he said in reply to Dominique Ng (Padungan- PKR) who asked if the government would abandon the construction of the proposed dams, which like the Bakun dam, “would similarly be extravagant and unnecessary.” Source: Edge Daily
You can't blame anyone for being sceptical about the detailed feasibility studies given the opaque nature in which the Sarawak Government operates.
The concern is very much on:
1. Environmental impact of the dams construction.
.2. Displacement of the native communities in the affected areas.
3. Environmental impact of the proposed giant aluminium smelting operations that will use the electricity generated. See my post on this here.
4. The effectiveness of SCORE on the overall economic welfare of Sarawakians.
.These issues must be addressed head on by the Sarawak Government opening itself for open consultations and dialogues with ALL Sarawakians including Opposition parties.
Taib and Company should take the cue from Raja Nazrin's speech delivered in Taib's presence, unless he chooses to be deaf and pretends that Raja Nazrin was only speaking to the people in Semenanjung, Kuching being only the venue for the speech.
It is reported that Raja Nazrin had said that to strengthen integrity, the Rulers shall hold consultations and negotiations, gather opinions and be open minded to assess each advice rationally, objectively and fairly.
This principle of CONSULTATION should apply to all governments, especially the Sarawak Government.
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