GEOENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

Rampant flood aren't nightmares today

Flood seems to be a common occurrence in Sarawak. It has seemed been a yearly event for the state whenever heavy rainfall strikes unexpectedly. In early 2009, the state was hit worst by the 'landas season',. Several river basins were badly flooded and many parts of the town and cities were submerged in water, for example, the town such as Sibu, Kanowit, Selangau, Marudi, and Bau. In many occassions in most cases, the flood levels rose rapidly without any due warning. In the past, say in the 50s or 60s, 70s, an extreme flood seldom occurred in certain areas that normally occurred once in every 10 or 25 years. Today, frequent flood is quite rampant and scary for the population who have never been affected for the last tens of years or more.

There are several factors that enhance the rapid rise in flood in the stream under a normal heavy rainfall. In the past, there was used to be the same amount and duration of rainfall, but floods were not as rampant as today. I think, such serious floods in todays are due to uncountable compound dams in the vast catchment areas have been destroyed unscrupulously. In several main river, serious siltation can also aggravate the flood to a dangerous level. In the past, there had been vast area with uncountable well-preserved natural dams that can help to cushion and impound runoff, thus the flood level rises slowly. The quick rise in flood is usually due to the rapid run-off from the hilly areas to the river. Perhaps more than 90 per cent of the rainfall flow as run-off and drain rapidly into the channels without any obstacles/dams delaying the flow. It may take ages for the natural dams to develop and may never developed to the fullest viewing the rapid development implemented in the State.

UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE BOTH, BUT WE WILL HAVE TO FACE AND LIVE WITH IT AT THE EXPENSE OF DEVELOPMENT.