BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN
Saturday, May 29, 2010
No proboscis hurt in forest clearing
THE Public Works Department (PWD) has allayed public concern regarding the clearing of mangroves along Sungai Damuan saying that it was necessary in a bid to combat floodings in residential areas along the river.
Flooding is a big problem for the kampongs and mukims close to the area, especially upstream.
The department also assured the public that the project has taken into consideration possible disturbances to the natural habitat are minimal.
People raised the fear that the clearing of the mangrove forests along the riverside near the Bengkurong village drove away the endangered proboscis monkeys which in a way also affected the number of tourists who come to see these shy monkeys.
“Unfortunately, the clearance is essential to reduce flooding in the residential areas of Perpindahan Bunut, Bengkurong, Tasek Meradun, Bebatek, Mulaut and Kilanas,” said the public relations office of the PWD in a prepared statement.
“Flooding in these areas occurs annually, or more often immediately surrounding the site causing damages to property and inconvenience to over 30,000 people at the upstream end of the river,” said the department.
The PWD has been discussing this matter with relevant agencies Forestry, Museum, Tourism, Jastre and came up with several options for the channel.
“The question of the best option incorporated short-term displacement for the proboscis and the tourism they generate, while minimising flooding for 30,000 people,” said the department.
“The most favoured option involves a channel shortcut on a previously silted up stretch of river at the west end of Pulau Luba, thereby avoiding the need to widen along the stretch of Pulau Luba and Ranggu. “This will isolate the islands, preventing nuisance animals such as dogs disturbing the proboscis,” the department added.
Regarding the area of mangroves being cleared, approximately one per cent of the total 9.5 square kilometres of mangroves adjoining the site will be cleared.
The department also emphasised that “no proboscis has been killed to date and care will be taken to ensure they move on to adjoining mangroves prior to river excavation”.
The importance of the project is crucial, with the PWD stating that complaints of flooding from the areas are “the highest for all of Brunei”. This is due to the floodplain being less than two metres above average sea level.
“The department has an ongoing programme for channel maintenance to meet its legislated requirements for conveyance of floodwaters and enable navigation for boat traffic,” added the Public Works.
The project includes excavating silt arising from urban development and removing hindrances to floodwaters including riverside vegetation.
The PWD also underscored that efforts of channel widening in areas upstream of the project site have taken place over the last decade yet the main river remains the only outlet for the area.
“The narrowness of this channel, in places only 20m wide at the top of bank creates a bottleneck for floodwaters and therefore needs to be widened and deepened so that floodwaters can be released into Sungai Brunei,” said the department.
Channel work will be completed over a 15-month period and requires excavation of 250,000 metres of silty sand.
The material will be treated offsite to reduce acidic runoff into the channel with a sloping embankment on the channel created for “re-colonisation” of mangroves along the riverfront. The site will be left to return to its original green state as much as possible, the department said.
The Brunei Times
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