KENINGAU: Nine families living along the Ramalan River banks at Kampung Tuarid Taud here are having sleepless nights during the rainy season.

UNSAFE: Norlin (left) showing the soil erosion to Rufus.

One of villagers, Norlin Gantis, said they had highlighted their problem to the government many times but no action had been taken.

“We are always worried when the river is flooded and some of the villagers could not sleep,” said Norlin who brought The Borneo Post to inspect the river bank yesterday.

Norlin said the river bank had been facing soil erosion for the past several years.

According to her, the village management, especially the Village Development and Security Committee (JKKK), had brought the matter to the authority concerned here for further action but until now, no action had been taken.

“If not for the bamboo trees along the river banks, the erosion would be more serious,” she pointed out.

Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Joseph Pairin Kitingan visited the village in 2008 and approved an allocation to build gabions along the 3,000-metre river bank.

However, Norlin said the villagers were disappointed that the contractor did not carry out the work at the specified area but instead at upstream of the river.

She hoped the government could take immediate action to overcome the problem.

Norlin also urged the government to upgrade a one-kilometre gravel road in the village as it becomes dusty during the dry season and the dust would enter their houses.

In another development, the residents of Kampung Dangulad and Tuarid Liawan have appealed to the government to construct a new suspension bridge as the one they are using now is damaged.

They said the management of the villages has reported the matter to the government department concerned, including the Bingkor People Development Leader Unit Office (UPKR) here.

According to them, the bridge is used by the students of SMK Gunsanad, SK Pekan and SK Tuarid Taud as a short cut to cross the Liawan River when it is hit by flood.

“We hope the government could build a new suspension bridge for the students and the people to cross the river,” they said.

Meanwhile, a representative of Bingkor UPKR, Rufus Gahim, will make a report to the authority concerned here for further action.