New ‘final’ site for Papar dam
Published on: Thursday, June 27, 2019
By: Hayati Dzulkifli
PAPAR: The State Government has decided to build the controversial Papar hydroelectric dam costing some RM3 billion at a new “final” site adjacent to Kampung Mandoringin in Ulu Papar, here.
State Infrastructure Development Minister Datuk Peter Anthony said the construction of the dam will begin as soon as the new plan is ready.
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He said the new plan was made after the State Government had decided to build the dam in the Papar River next to Kampung Mandoringin.
“(During the previous government) the dam, known as the Kaiduan Dam, was supposed to be built at the Penampang-Papar border. But the current government has decided to change the location and it will be built in Papar area. So, we are working on the new plan and it will be completed as soon as possible,” he told reporters after visiting the construction site.
He said the dam would also be used to generate electricity.
“This dam will generate 100 kilovolt-ampere (KVA) power that can accommodate the needs of people from Papar to Kota Kinabalu.
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“According to a study, the dam will have the capacity to hold 1,000 million litres of water per day and it will be able to solve water supply problems in Papar, Kota Kinabau and nearby areas,” he added.
Peter said the project was estimated to cost about RM3 billion and the State Government would take a soft loan from the Federal Government to finance the project.
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He said the road leading to the construction site, which is currently in a poor condition, would be upgraded to facilitate the construction of the project.
“The Government will also ensure that residents involved in the construction of the dam receive the necessary assistance such as relocated to new settlement and being paid incentives,” he said.
He said a Bailey bridge would be built across the Sungai Kaiduan to replace the damaged low-level crossing bridge.
Peter, who took the initiative to drive on off-road tracks and rough roads from Kinarut which took more than four hours, plus hiking for 30 minutes on a steep slope, to reach the new site, said: “The new site, which is about 25km from Kinarut, will have less social and environmental impact.”
Also present were Papar MP Ahmad Hassan, Infrastructure Development Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr Ismail Charles, State Water Department Director Ir. Amarjit Singh, Papar community leaders and other officials.
Despite the new high cost of the project, Peter said the dam with two functions would benefit the State Government by generating an income of between RM400 million and RM500 million per year after paying the construction costs for six to seven years.
“We are fully aware that if we do not build this dam, the water woes along the West Coast of Sabah will not be resolved.
“So, with the upcoming construction of Tanjung Aru Eco Development (TAED) project and the increasing population, I strongly believe that we must and need sufficient and sustainable supply of water.
“Hence, the State Cabinet decided that this two-in-one Papar dam project will be constructed immediately after the overall new design of the dam is fully completed,” he said.
He said a meeting will be held soon involving the relevant departments and agencies before “we could finalise on the overall areas that will be used to build the dam as well as looking into the number of people who might be affected by the project.”
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