Sabahan Nousi Guin has not been sleeping well since February 2008.

That was when he found out that the state government had granted approval for authorities to carry out feasibility studies and submit technical proposals for the implementation of the Kaiduan Dam project in his lush hamlet of tranquillity, Ulu Papar.

Dams, as we know them, are man-made monstrosities of gushing water – with the larger ones towering between 13 and 230 metres high – long promoted as a source of hydro power generation and water supply.