KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s Babagon Dam is secure and there is no risk of failure, according to Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Shahelmey Yahya.
The Works Minister of the state informed that the dam, operated by Jetama Sdn Bhd, a private water producer, has passed all the necessary inspections earlier this year.
Jetama and the Sabah Water Department provided a report to Shahelmey Yahya as Babagon Dam was among eight dams in the country that may face potential failure following inspections conducted by the Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry.
“Babagon Dam is currently being operated and maintained by Jetama. According to their Fifth Major Surveillance Report from April 2023, the dam consulting engineer concluded that it is in good condition and performing as expected,” he stated when contacted.
He further added that the last surveillance report was carried out in February 2023 by an independent qualified dam consultant.
Shahelmey Yahya explained that the report submitted to the federal ministry was based on checks performed up to June 2022.
Babagon Dam, located in Penampang, was constructed in 1994 and serves as a crucial water source for the west coast of the state, including the state capital.
Earlier this week, the ministry announced that Bakun Dam in Sarawak, Muda and Ahning Dams in Kedah, the Jor and Mahang Dams in Perak, the Sultan Abu Bakar Dam in Pahang, and the Kenyir Dam in Terengganu had sustained damages and could potentially endanger nearby residents and property in the event of failure.
These findings were revealed by a dam safety flying squad that conducted inspections from 2021 to 2022, as stated by the ministry.
The inspections discovered high sedimentation in the reservoir, damage to instrumentation and water control equipment, seepage, damage to concrete structures’ integrity, soil erosion, and signs of collapse.
According to the ministry, the estimated repair and maintenance costs for the eight dams amounted to RM135.82 million, and the dam owners need to allocate funds for special maintenance.
The ministry also outlined its plan to continue inspecting other dams, particularly those over 50 years old, using the flying squad.
The flying squad is an ad hoc body coordinated by the Water Supply Division in the ministry and comprises of experts from various technical departments such as the Public Works Department, the Irrigation and Drainage Department (DID), Tenaga Nasional Bhd, and the Muda Agricultural Development Authority.
The ministry stated that the inspection conducted by the flying squad adhered to the Malaysia Dam Safety Management Guidelines developed by the DID.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
