Government need to resolve two issues at the Bengoh Dam

KUCHING: Only two issues is left for the state government to resolve before it could move the residents of four villages affected by the RM310 million Bengoh Dam in Padawan to a new resettlement area provided for them.

The affected villagers said before they decided to move out from their ancestral land, the government must pay full compensation for their land, crops and to be provided with free houses at the resettlement area.

A government officer entrusted by the State Government to negotiate with the affected villages said it now up to the State Government whether to meet the villagers demands or otherwise.

The officer said that so far the government has compensated those land which will be flooded by the dam’s water but has not compensated their crops and land that are not going to be flooded.

Following the dam construction, residents of Kampung Taba Sait now move their homes to higher ground near the existing village.

The officer said a minster has discussed with Minister of Rural Development Datuk Shafie Abdal on the possibility of building free houses for the affected families at the resettlement area situated between Kampung Semadang in Penrissen and Kampung Skio in Bau district.

"We are still awaiting for the state government's decision on compensation payments and responses from Datuk Shafie on giving free houses," said the officer concerned to Harian Metro.

The officer said, before this Syarikat Perumahan Negara Berhad has been entrusted funds and build the houses, then sold to people involved at RM48, 000 each unit.

However, the affected villaers said they will not buy the houses and will continue to live in their existing villages.

There are 359 families from four villages affected by the project.