Low water level in upper Rajang forces express
boats plying Kapit-Bakun route to stop operating
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The prolonged dry spell has resulted in extreme low-water level.
This forced express boats to suspend operation between Kapit and Belaga.
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KAPIT: The prolonged dry spell that hit the upper reaches of the Batang Rajang has caused the river’s water level along the Kapit-Belaga-Bakun route to drop so low that express boat service to Belaga and Bakun from here has to stop.
A boat operator claimed yesterday it is now possible to walk across certain stretches of the Rajang River especially near Bakun.
As a result the people in the area are now completely cut off as there are no roads linking their settlements to here.
Those living in places further downstream that can still be reached by boat face a different problem – boat fare hike.
Officer-in-charge of Sarawak Rivers Board (SRB) Kapit, Riyung Barau, told The Borneo Post yesterday that his office had received two complaints of fare hike for the Kapit-Nanga Merit route on Tuesday.
The complainants claimed the boat operator increased the price from the usual RM35 to RM50, and this has hit the rural folk hard as they depend solely on river transport to get to Kapit.
“SRB will investigate these complaints. If true, we will take action against the culprit,” said Riyung.
He explained there were two boats operating the Kapit-Belaga route: Burung Mas 5 and Bah Manis. For the Kapit-Nanga Merit route, the boat is Burung Perak. Another boat – Punan Bah Sayang – goes to Punan Bah only.
Riyung said of these four boats, only Burung Mas 5 and Burung Perak enjoy subsidised fuel, not the other two.
“The fuel subsidy is from the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism (KPDNKK).”
He added without fuel subsidy it was not feasible to operate the Kapit-Bakun route.
“The journey from Kapit to Bakun takes about five hours. For a return trip, these boat operators spend about RM2,000 on fuel, but the money collected from the passengers is, on the average, only about RM1,000.
“This is also one of the reasons why boat fares to Bakun is expensive.”
While the people grapple with transport disruption, the problem of water shortage looms for the whole area as the drought is just setting in.
At present, Kapit town still has water, but those living in areas from Nanga Merit right up to Wong Mikai are already facing water shortage as the source of the gravity-feed water supply system has almost dried up. - Borneo Post.
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