IPOH – The Tanjung Batu Teluk Sera Waterfall in Segari, Beruas is still preserved, unaffected by the quarrying in the Segari Melintang Forest Reserve.
Perak health, science, environment and green technology committee chairman Mohd Akmal Kamarudin said viral photographs showing that the waterfall had been affected were actually images of it being affected by the seasonal waterway, which occurs especially during heavy rains.
He said the waterway was formed as a result of a water reservoir 200m high in the licensed area of Compartment 16 (Block E) of the Segari Melintang Forest Reserve.
“The Tanjung Batu Teluk Sera Waterfall is actually still preserved and not at all affected. It is located outside the area licensed for quarrying activities,” he said in a statement today.
He said a preliminary investigation found that the quarry operator had violated the stipulated environmental impact assessment conditions, including not appointing a qualified environment officer.
This led to a failure to control erosion and sediment at the next project site and thus affecting the waterway.
Akmal said that the area obtained a licence for the production of rocks (quarrying) in 2014 as well as the approval of the environmental impact assessment report on October 2, 2017.
In addition, he said the environmental management plan for the project was approved on October 25, 2018 before the quarry scheme approval letter was released on February 1, 2019.
He said that due to violations of EIA conditions, restraining and stop-work orders were issued on January 20 and the licensee was instructed to carry out repair and rehabilitation works on the seasonal waterway.
“The state government has directed the parties involved to carry out cleaning and rehabilitation works in the affected areas starting yesterday. Work is expected to be completed within two weeks,” he said.
He also advised the public not to be alarmed if they see machinery around the quarry as cleaning and rehabilitation works are going on. – Bernama, January 22, 2021
