Fishermen making their way through the logjam along Sungai Krangan in Balai Ringin. - ZULAZHAR SHEBLEE/The Star
KUCHING: Fishermen from Kampung Melayu Balai Ringin want action to be taken to clear a massive logjam obstructing Sungai Krangan.
They also hope the authorities can take steps to prevent future occurrences.
Kelana Majid, 57, said this was the fourth time a logjam had occurred in the river in recent years and the biggest to date.
"Our fishing nets are damaged when the floating wood and debris get caught in them.
"We've had to repair our nets many times. One of my nets was also (dragged under) by the logjam," he said when met on Tuesday (Feb 4).
He added that the fishermen were suffering losses as the logjam made it difficult for them to catch fish and prawns, and also hindered navigation in the river.
Abang Ali Hassan, 49, said the logjam was caused by wood debris from an oil palm plantation upriver dislodged into Sungai Krangan by the recent heavy rain.
"I hope the authorities will take action and help us. One way is to build a retaining wall along the riverbank at the plantation so that the wood debris will not drift into the river," he said.
Abang Ali also said his nets had been damaged by the logjam.
"Fishing is our livelihood. If we can't catch fish, we have no income," he added.
Balai Ringin assemblyman Datuk Snowdan Lawan called for stern action to be taken against the plantation company for the logjam, claiming that it came from indiscriminate forest clearing upstream.
"Every time there is heavy rain or floods like the one recently, the deadwood and debris will drift down the river, causing a massive logjam.
"This is the fourth time it happened and stern action is required. It is time for a more stringent deterrent (imposed) by the enforcement authorities," he said in a statement on Monday (Feb 3).
Snowdan said he had received complaints from 47 fishermen affected by the logjam, whose nets were submerged and lost in the debris.
He said the logjam also threatened the water intake point at Sungai Krangan which supplies the Balai Ringin water treatment plant.
As such, he urged the Sarawak Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB), Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID) and District Office to step in.
He also called for an immediate response from the company and authorities to clear the logjam.
