IPOH: The mini hydro-electric dam project in Ulu Geruntum will likely continue as the state government is bound by an agreement, says Perak Environment Committee chairman Dr Abdul Aziz Bari.
He said that they could not dishonour the agreement made by the previous Barisan Nasional state government.
Dr Abdul Aziz added that the state has been pressed by the developer to honour the agreement, despite a promise made by Teja assemblyman Sandrea Ng to stop it.
"I need to look over the agreement and assess it. We cannot simply do things without taking into account the rule of law," he said after launching a state-level Teachers' Day celebration at AEON Mall here on Tuesday (April 2).
Dr Abdul Aziz said that the matter would be discussed with the state legal advisor to address the complaints by the orang asli in the area.
It was reported last August that the project has been put on hold following protests by orang asli and white-water rafting operators.
The project was said to have damaged the orang asli's ancestral gravesites and disrupted their livelihoods by destroying farms and orchards.
Eco-tourism businesses were also said to be affected as the waters of Sungai Kampar were polluted by it.
The project was approved by the previous state government and part of a larger project to build 31 mini hydro dams along three rivers in Perak.
Dr Abdul Aziz said he had visited the area about two weeks ago and assured that the welfare of the orang asli would not be sidelined.
"The state is giving serious attention to the matter. The state is committed to renewable energy.
"We'll look for ways and means that will not be detrimental and at the expense of the environment and the welfare of the orang asli," he said.
On its investigation into claims that a similar mini hydro-electric dam in Pos Kuak, Sungai Siput that was causing Sungai Korbu to be murky, Dr Abdul Aziz said he was still waiting for a report on the matter from the state Environmental Department.
He said the state was concerned about the conditions of its rivers.
"We will not let any similar issue in Johor happen in Perak. We plan to have more programmes to improve the quality of our rivers next year," he said.
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