KUCHING: The recurring logjam at Sungai Krangan, Balai Ringin, has once again brought hardship to local fishermen, leaving 47 affected as their 23 fishing nets were submerged.
The massive logjam, caused by drifting deadwood and debris flowing along the river, marks the fourth occurrence, highlighting the urgent need for stern action.
Responding to complaints from affected residents from Kampung Melayu Balai Ringin, Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan said the plantation company responsible for the logjam at Sungai Krangan Balai Ringin has failed to learn from past incidents.
“All these debris that flow into the river are consequences from the forest destruction from the plantation forest clearing upstream.
“Stern and drastic action should be taken by the authority concern, to ensure this incident of logjam caused by floating deadwoods and debris which block the river flow and cause hardship to the local fishermen would not recur again,” he said.
The Balai Ringin assemblyman said this in a press statement yesterday (Feb 3) after receiving complaints from the local residents, especially from 47 fishermen with their 23 fishing nets in kampung Melayu Balai Ringin are badly affected whereby their fishing nets are now submerged by the logjam and nowhere to be located and want him to intervene immediately.
Snowdan added that everytime there is heavy rain downpour or flood like the one recently, the deadwood debris from the nearby plantation company will drift down the river and block the river causing massing logjam and even threatens the Water Intake Plant (WIP) located at that Sungai Krangan.
“This can be devastating and hazardous because the river is the source of Balai Ringin water intake.
“I would like the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB) and the other enforcement agencies related to this incident like the District or Sub-District Office and the Department of Irrigation and Drainage (DID) to act firmly to curb this menace,” he said.
He said penalties do not seem to deter the plantation company from repeating their indiscriminate forest clearing activities and they are dumb to the residents predicament.
“The kampung folks said that this is the worst one especially during the this flooding time.
“It’s times for a more stringent deterrent deemed necessary by enforcement authorities.
“Meanwhile I also like immediate response from NREB, the plantation company and the authorities to clear the logjam,” he said.
