KUCHING, March 29: A recent joint agency and community effort cleared floating debris at Bakun Lake’s Long Kebuho, contributing to safe river passage for the lakeside community.
According to a press release, Long Kebuho, a community of about 100 households, depends primarily on the river as their main mode for transportation and source of livelihood.
The floating debris, located about 80km upstream of the Bakun hydropower plant, had impeded ease of navigation of the river for the lakeside community. Datuk Liwan Lagang, Assistant Minister for Utilities (Rural Electricity) who is also Belaga assemblyman officiated and participated at the ‘gotong-royong’ (work party) which was organised by the Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) last Tuesday (March 23).
Twelve Sarawak Energy personnel joined the cleanup team alongside SRB officers for the ‘gotong-royong’ which also included 40 Long Kebuho villagers. Sarawak Energy also contributed life vests, face masks and hand sanitisers to keep participants safe from the risk of Covid-19 transmission.
As part of its operational requirements, Sarawak Energy clears floating debris found within a 15KM radius of the dam to protect the 2,400MW Bakun HEP, a highly secured facility vital for Sarawak’s energy demand. The clearing of floating debris is also crucial to ensure villagers who live upstream have safe boat passage on the lake and upriver tributaries.
“We truly feel we are a part of this lakeside community and they are a part of us, and many of our personnel are local to the area teams. Sarawak Energy’s Bakun and Murum hydropower continue to work together with the Bakun and Murum residents of Belaga to provide support when necessary and in the deployment of our social investments.
This ‘gotong-royong’ helps to clear the river passageways and fosters closer rapport with SRB and the communities whom we work closely with on our day-to-day operations,” said Polycarp Wong, Sarawak Energy vice-president for hydropower. — DayakDaily
