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©The Star (Used by permission)

KUCHING: The Sarawak government said yesterday that environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies are mandatory for the construction of dams.

Former Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Michael Manyin said that dam construction was a prescribed activity listed under the Natural Resources and Environment (Prescribed Activities) Order.

“Under the order, an EIA is mandatory for any prescribed activity and an EIA report has to be prepared by qualified consultants registered with the Natural Resources and Environment Board (NREB).

“The report has to be submitted to the NREB for review and approval,” he said in a statement dated July 31 but released here yesterday.

In a minor Cabinet reshuffle which took effect yesterday, Manyin swapped posts with Urban Development and Tourism Minister Datuk Wong Soon Koh.

Manyin also said the EIA reports would be reviewed by a group of experts drawn from various stakeholders in Sarawak.

“In approving the EIA report, the NREB imposes stringent conditions which the project proponent has to comply with to ensure that the environment is properly managed and protected during the project implementation and operation,” he said, adding that public participation had always been incorporated into the EIA process.

Manyin was responding to concerns raised by NGOs and environmentalists over plans to build 12 hydroelectric dams in Sarawak.

“Any decision made by the state to develop these dams will be done with much due consideration for the best interests of the people of Sarawak,” he said.

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