Pius and Bryan inspecting the river from a suspension bridge
PENAMPANG. Extremely muddy river water during the current
dry spell is simply abnormal for the villages of upper Moyog River.
The gravity
water supply has dried up and the villagers cannot fall back on the river which
used to be crystal clear before. A
barrage of complaint from villagers, village chiefs, chairmen of JKKK and River
Tagal leaders were received by District Chief Bryan Matasing. He conducted a
whole morning inspection yesterday together with Asst Native Chief Pius Kunsung
who hailed from Moyog. All the rivulets flowing into the river were found to be
clean albeit with low flow except for one that flows through Kg Mongkusilad
where the rivulet shares the same name. This rivulet was found covered with
clay and mud. Above this rivulet is a massive land cutting that was the subject
a dialogue at Kg Notorus community hall in December 2014. During this dialogue
session, the owner of the project did not bother to attend prompting a lady
from the village to ask the government officials what is so special about this
person known with a three letter name that even the authorities cannot take
action.
A hill farmer Poungi Gumas, 64
from Kg Rugading Baru has a farm house on the opposite side of the river said
the exact location of this hill cutting is Mile 24 Tambunan Moyog Rd. He had
cultivated a plot of land for rubber trees and fruits since 1982 and is now
affected by the mud as his plot lies below the hill cutting. Gumas who was met
on site said he had seen forestry officers and others coming to take
photographs before but to date no further action.
Photographs taken during this
inspection sufficiently proved the methodology of hill cutting was the culprit.
A retired engineer said hill
cutting is not a problem provided mitigation measures as stated in the specification
are followed. This is a private project and the owner could not care less about
mitigations to protect the environment, he said. “Excess loose earth were
simply pushed down the steep side of a tall cliff and the slightest rain will
wash them down into the river. He might as well have dumped truck loads of clay
straight into the river water.”
The engineer further opined that
earthfill is now very expensive in Penampang, the market rate for earth alone
without the transportation cost is around RM10 per truck so the man should have
sold his excess earth and covered his GST. Even if the stop work order is
really enforced now, it would take another 10 years for all that loose clay to
be completely washed down the river, he added.
Matasing informed that apart
from the villagers who used to take their water supply from the river, others
affected are 28 tagal system, 5 eco-tourism and a supplementary water intake
for the Water Department at Kg Madsiang.
The retired engineer suggested
all those affected should combine their resources and claim for compensation in
a class-action lawsuit while the evidences are still fresh.
EVIDENCE: Very loose clay and soil on the steep slope above the Mongkusilad River
Even JETAMA water intake at Madsiang is grossly affected.
