GEORGE TOWN – The Penang Environment Department (DoE) is set to take stern action against a housing developer and quarry operator in Bayan Lepas here for allegedly operating despite the expiry of the environmental impact assessment approval for the operations on December 7 last year.
State DoE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said the quarry site at Persiaran Kelicap was originally a housing project site approved on August 18, 1994.
However, she said, the developer had then submitted an application through his contractor to carry out quarry operations with approval obtained on October 31, 2013, taking into account the position of other housing areas which were still far away at that time.
“The permitted quarry operation period was for three years, ending on October 31, 2016.
“The developer then applied for an extension and was approved three times, with the last one ending on December 7, 2021.
“Applications to extend quarry operations can no longer be considered due to the current insufficient buffer zone, which has triggered complaints from local residents,” she said in a statement today.
After the quarry operation period was not extended, Sharifah said, DoE continued to to receive complaints from nearby residents that the quarry was still operating and disrupting their daily activities.
As a result, she said, the department’s personnel conducted reconnaissance on the premises on February 14, and discovered that the quarry was still carrying out rock-breaking activities and using loud water cannons.
“The DoE called the quarry developer and contractor on February 18, and advised them to no longer carry out quarrying activities.
“However, the next day, the DoE still received complaints from residents and found that they were still operating illegally.”
Following that, Sharifah said, the DoE sent a notice of instruction to the developer on February 20 to order that all quarrying activities and sub-activities be stopped immediately.
She said the notice also directed the developer to submit an environmental management plan report for housing activities according to the contours within six months from the date of the notice if they were still interested in carrying out housing-related activities.
“DoE is currently in the process of preparing an investigation paper to bring developers and contractors to court for offences under Section 34 A, Sections 31 and 38, Environmental Quality Act, 1974,” she said. – The Vibes, February 20, 2022
