KUCHING: The relocation of seven Penan villages affected by the proposed Murum hydroelectric dam in Belaga will be carried out according to the findings of a social and environmental impact assessment.
State environmental adviser Datuk Dr James Dawos said the government had appointed consultants to conduct the study, expected to be completed before the end of the year, and would take their report into consideration before coming up with a resettlement plan.
He said the study involved consulting the affected communities on their preferences for resettlement, as well as documenting their cultural heritage, traditions and social lifestyle.
“It also has a grievance mechanism so that the affected communities will know where to bring their complaints.
“In addition, the consultants will write a summary of the report in the vernacular language and make it public so that the villagers can read it,” he said yesterday.
The affected villages are Long Wat, Long Luar, Long Tangau, Long Menapa, Long Singu, Long Malim and Long Uba.
The proposed RM3bil Murum dam is expected to be completed in 2013. Construction started last year.
Dr Dawos also said villagers from Long Wat would have to be temporarily relocated due to the construction of a cofferdam to divert the river.
He said the villagers had agreed to move to a site of their choice and requested that housing, basic facilities like water and electricity, and social amenities including a football field, be provided.
“I went to the ground to conduct a dialogue with the villagers recently and they don’t mind being temporarily resettled.
“The developer of the dam has also conducted a dialogue with the villagers and accepted their requests,” he said.
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