Under Siege

The land of the hornbill and the land of the Saperstory is under siege! on starting from 6/10/2010. Did it happen elsewhere in the world at this magnitude? Maybe ? Surely not if

the source is from the wasted log indiscriminately left after being cut down and later found not the right wood. But hei thats Sarawak forest management by the tycoon concept submit to the Sarawak Government who endorsed it. Now is the right time that nature cant wait for this unscrupulous deeds. The river bed being silted due to sediment from upriver due to logging that cause frequent flooding. They defended the good forest management policy. The rest they ignore the nature call the river is polluted by nitrogen base compound from the oil palm estate and industrial waste from the camp upstream that cause hazardous element to us and the fish. But not until this day, natures cant wait and keep silent. Its kilometers after kilometers as reported by local media the mighty Rejang river is filled up with logs of all kind and types.

From: star

SIBU: Logs and debris, stretching for 50km on the Rajang river, reached Sibu town at about 10am yesterday leaving many people shocked by the scale of what is turning out to be an environmental disaster.

“This is unprecedented and beyond imagination,” Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Seri Wong Soon Koh said after assessing the situation at the Express Passenger Boat Terminal in the morning.

According to a statement from the Natural Resources and Environment Board, the source of these logs and debris were from the Baleh River and its tributaries above Kapit.

Several days of heavy rain earlier this week in Putai and Nu­­ngun in upper Baleh had caused a massive landslide which brought down the logs and debris into the rivers. The high water level and swift current in Baleh River and its tributaries also washed the logs and debris along their banks…………..

From borneopost

Masing: Punish culprits

Posted on October 9, 2010, Saturday

Authorities urged to investigate ecological disaster and make those responsible accountable

KUCHING: Whoever caused the massive influx of floating debris into the Rajang River should be punished, Minister for Land Development Dato Sri Dr James Masing said yesterday.

He said the latest case was the third such ecological disaster in Baleh, Ulu Kapit which caused so much hardship to the local people.

The first time was in Sungai Ga’at in 2008 and the second one happened in Sungai Tutoh last year.

“The latest one is the biggest as it stretches for about 250 kilometres from Ulu Baleh to Sibu town,” Masing told The Borneo Post here yesterday.

Masing, who is also Baleh assemblyman, blamed the disaster on uncontrolled logging in the upper reaches of Baleh River.

“I hope the relevant authorities would investigate the matter and make the culprits accountable,” he said.

Meanwhile, chairman of the Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB), Roland Sagah said his agency had put up notices at public wharves informing the public and boat skippers about the danger posed by the floating debris.

“SRB will also find the source of the debris and get to the root cause of the matter. He added that they would possibly use a helicopter to check on the source.

“There are concerns about submerged logs as they can damage vessels. Boat operators have to be very careful,” said Sagah who is also Tarat assemblyman.

He observed that Batang Igan was also adversely affected but not the international waterways.

He said SRB would also ensure that the debris would not damage water mains and other facilities.

He said SRB’s other concern was the high tide which occurred yesterday evening. High tide could push the debris back upstream causing further clogging of the river.

“The authority is studying the volume of the debris

and how to help the State Disaster and Relief Management Committee to ensure public safety,” said Sagah.

He further disclosed that SRB would work closely with the Natural Resources and Environmental Board (NREB). Sagah said operation rooms have been set up in Sibu and Kapit to monitor the situation…………….