THERE is no proof that the proposed Nenggiri hydroelectric dam project would help alleviate Kelantan’s yearly flood woes and slash electricity rates.
“I’m sceptical that the dam project will help mitigate flood problems in Kelantan. In fact, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report makes no mention of it.
“Everyone knows that the massive floods in Kelantan are caused by the state government’s uncontrolled logging. When it comes to deforestation, Kelantan is the worst among all states in Peninsula Malaysia,” Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) central committee member Sharan Raj told FocusM.
Last week, the New Straits Times reported Kelantan Deputy Menteri Besar Datuk Mohd Amar Nik Abdullah as saying that the Nenggiri dam was need to solve flood problem in the state and reduce electricity tariff.
“The idea of setting up the Nenggiri hydroelectric dam came from Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB) and the main reason for this construction is to generate electrical power.
“We believe the electricity prices can also be reduced later. The state government and TNB also agreed that this project will reduce the risk of floods especially in upstream areas in Kelantan.
“The water from the dam can also be used for agricultural drainage and other domestic consumption. This is among the reasons why we agreed to the project,” Amar was reported saying.
Dam to operate two months, yearly?
Training his guns against Amar, Sharan also dismissed the former’s argument that the dam would help reduce electricity rates, as higher power reserve margin would only spike tariffs further.
“According to the Energy Commission (EC), our electricity reserve margin will shoot up to 43% in 2027, when the Nenggiri dam is fully operational.
“Therefore, our people will actually be burdened with higher electricity rates for unused power. We’re just providing free money to the well-connected, at the expense of the rakyat.
”Besides, the optimum reserve margin for Peninsula Malaysia is 15% and the Government had approved a reserve of 25% for year 2025 to 2029. So, it’s baffling on why the Government is going against its own policy,” he stated.
On that note, the PSM leader said he found it ridiculous that the dam will be scheduled to operate less than four hours a day.
“The project consultant, UKM Pakarunding Sdn Bhd, has confirmed this. Therefore, the dam will only be operating less than two months, in a year.
“Why is the Government spending so much money to build a dam which will only operate for two months annually? Just scrap the project as it will only burden our environment and the Orang Asli community living there,” he remarked. – March 29, 2021.
