A few years ago, I attended a forum in Ipoh and had the opportunity to chat with Charles over a meal of Nga Choi Kai (boiled chicken with bean sprouts) hosted by MP, Kulasegaran. Others included Lim Kit Siang, Thomas Su, Teresa Kok and Richard Yeoh.
He was already known as the ‘Water man’ or rather an authority on water management and conservation and even then, I expected him to move from activist to politician. I think it is really good to have experts in various fields to be involved in managing our country.
MP: Seek Underground Water Instead of Building Dams
Chan Kok Leong Apr 15, 08 3:51pm, Malaysiakini
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Klang parliamentarian Charles Santiago questioned the rational behind the Selangor government’s decision to continue with the Pahang-Selangor dam project.
Noting that the project would bring more harmful effects than benefits, the DAP politician said that Selangor should re-consider and look at other options.
“Instead of building a dam in Pahang, which will cause many environmental and ecological detriments, the Selangor state government should explore other options.
“And while there is no guarantee (as rainfall may reduce drastically due to global warming and climate change) that a dam in Pahang will provide a steady flow of raw water to Selangor, the effects of a permanent dam are irreversible,” said the 48-year-old political scientist when contacted today.
Instead of a dam, Selangor should explore the possibility of tapping into Perak’s underground water reserve, Santiago suggested.
Enough underground water
According to Santiago, who is a director of NGO Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN), there is enough underground water in Batang Padang, Perak to solve the state’s water woes.
“According to our studies, the catchment is capable of providing some 2,000 million litres per day (mld).
“Furthermore, the Environmental Impact Assessment for the project overestimated Selangor’s needs. The report said that Selangor needed 3,000mld in 2001 but in reality the actual usage was only 2,647.6mld that year.
“Added to the fact that population growth in Selangor is only 1.6 percent as opposed to the report’s estimates of four percent growth per annum, Selangor should have adequate water,” said Santiago.
Besides the environmental damage, Santiago said that many orang asli who live in the area would also have to be relocated.
Higher cost to consumers
Not helpful either, he added, is the higher cost to consumers in Selangor.
“If they piped the water down from Perak, it would be cheaper as no mega infrastructures would need to be built,” he reasoned.
The Pahang-Selangor dam project is estimated to cost RM9 billion to construct.
“What the Selangor government should also do is to create more projects to conserve water, not build more mega dams. Climate change and global warming is a reality and people should be educated on its preciousness and not abuse it,” he added.
The Pahang-Selangor dam was mooted by the National Water Council to avert water crisis in Klang Valley in 2000. Under the plan, a 37.5km tunnel from Telemong Dam and Kelau Dam in Pahang to rivers in Selangor.
The tunnel which will go through the Main Range will enable 1,000mld of water to be piped into Selangor. Water, diverted into Selangor’s rivers, will be subsequently channeled into the Langat and Semenyih dam.
Government fed by the people
Career options
I suggest government... because nobody has ever been caught.
Corruption so prevalent it affects English language?
Corruption is so prevalent it affects English language?
When there's too much dirt...
We need better tools... to cover up mega corruptions.
Prevent bullying now!
If you're not going to speak up, how is the world supposed to know you exist? “Orang boleh pandai setinggi langit, tapi selama ia tidak menulis, ia akan hilang di dalam masyarakat dan dari sejarah.” - Ananta Prameodya Toer (Your intellect may soar to the sky but if you do not write, you will be lost from society and to history.)
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