IPOH – The Perak government has ordered a temporary cessation of all works, including quarrying activities, at the Tg Batu Teluk Sera Waterfall, Segari in Pantai Remis, Beruas.
Menteri Besar Datuk Saarani Mohamad said the order was issued pending a report on the alleged destruction of the waterfall area, in the Segari Melintang forest reserve, which bears permanent forest reserve status.
He said the state government had directed the state Forestry Department and Department of Environment (DoE) to conduct a thorough investigation on the alleged destruction, reports of which had gone viral on social media recently.
“Menteri Besar Incorporated has also been tasked with preparing a detailed report on quarrying activities that allegedly caused the destruction in the area,” he said in a statement today.
Yesterday, non-governmental organisation Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa), which brought press members to visit the affected location, claimed that more than 90% of the waterfall, once a tourist hotspot, had been destroyed by quarrying activities since last year.
Perak Forestry Department director Datuk Mohamed Zin Yusop said action would be taken against the contractor concerned under the National Forestry Act 1984 if it is proven that it has been violating licence conditions for quarrying activities in the area.
“The contractor has been directed to conduct cleaning works immediately. Heavy rain had washed remnants of wood from the quarry site into the river, causing it to become dirty,” he said.
Zin said he is awaiting a report from the District Forest Office to identify the extent of destruction in the area. – Bernama, January 18, 2021
