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BATANG
SKRANG
- The Unspoiled Beauty
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By William Jinep
Assistant Controller (Riverine & Enforcement)
Sarawak Rivers Boards
Batang Skrang, no stranger
to local and foreign tourists, lies nestled amongst the tropical green paradise
in Sri Aman, the 2nd Division of Sarawak. A tributary of Batang Lupar, the river
and its crystal clear water is home to at least a dozen species of fish.
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| Batang Skrang
in its pristine state |
The Nyelau Rapids-ideal
for white water rafting |
The shade provided by the overhanging branches of the Ensure trees provide cool
respite from the tropical heat. The clean sand and glistering pebbles along
the banks provide and ideal picnic spots to savour the catch of the day.
As you meander your way
through the hills you will find perched along the banks not less than twenty
one longhouses, three primary schools, and at Ng. Entalay, you can rest assured
the your health would be taken care of at the Government Clinic, there are also
a sub-district office and an agriculture department office to provide governmental
assistance to the locals.
Batang Skrang, where the
great Rentap once reigned supreme, is located about 160km from Kuching. Easily
accessible, the river is navigable by longboat from Pais jetty up to 25km to
the foot of the infamous Bukit Sadok. Along the river banks fruit trees can
be seen in full bloom especially the 'dabei' trees or better known by its name
as Canarium Odontophullum.
The river, however, can
be dangerous for the faint hearted. Two kilometres upstream of Ng. Entalau is
the Nyelau rapids, a rocky stretch with huge boulder sticking out in the middle
of the channel, even the most experinced boatman is known to have capsized in
this turbulent waterway, but to the adventurous, Btg Skrang is a challenge to
the navigation skills of those who claimed to have sailed the seven seas.
Recently, a team ot thirteen
officers from the Sarawak Rivers Boards, the agriculture and Forest Departments
cruised up the Skrang river for a study tour to obtain a first hand knowledge
of the riverine environment of Btg. Skrang and its immediate surrounds as art
of the Sarawak Rivers Boards Herritage Program. Dialogue sessions were also
held at the various longhouses located along the banks of the river to create
greater awarness among the local communities of the importance of traffic safety
and keeping the river clean.
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| Gotong royong -
removing the lurking danger |
Glistering sand
& pebbles |
Talk on the destructive
effect of illegal fishing and destruction of river bank vegetation were also
held with the local by officers from the Agriculture and Forest Departments.
On the final day, the 3rd of July 1999, the officers joined the locals in a
'gotong-royong' to clear the river of logs and dead branches in order to provide
smooth track for inland water nagivation, the only available mode of transport
for those residing along Btg. Skrang. Demonstration on life-saving techniques
and the importance of life jackets as a personal safety equipments were also
conducted.
On the morning of
4th July, the team bade farewell to Btg. Skrang and the friendly and courteous
locals to head for Kuching to chart the next course of action.
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| Pais Jetty - where
the adventure begins |
Btg, Skrang, offers boundless
opportunities for river conservation and ECQUA Tourism activities. ECQUA Tourism
is a combination of Environment (ECO) and Aqua tourism, which besides enjoying
the rich flora and fauna, visitors to Btg. Skrang may also wish to indulge in
water recreation activities such as white water rafting, snorkelling, angling,
kayaking and canoeing.
The River Heritage Programme
is a community based river management project initiated by the Sarawak Rivers
Board.
The programme calls for
the active participation of the local communities living along the rivers on
the conversation of the rich riverine flora and a fauna. And since Btg. Skrang
which not only has high degree of scenic values and ECQUA tourism potential
but also a rich and colourful history, has over the years become favourite tourist
destination, it is a opportune time now to preserve its natural beauty by the
gazzetting the river as a Protected River.
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