PETALING JAYA – Rimba Disclosure Project (RDP), an environmental watchdog group, has expressed concern that land located in Selangor forest reserves is getting cleared to possibly make way for the 665-km-long East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) project.
The group points to data based on satellite images dated from the end of 2022 to January this year, which show deforestation in the Hulu Gombak and Serendah forest reserves.
On a field visit to one of the clearings in the Serendah Forest Reserve (coordinates: 3.305339, 101.645089), RDP located a signboard suggesting that the deforestation is to make way for an emergency route related to the ECRL project.
Further, the signboard states that China Communications Construction Company (M) Sdn Bhd is the main contractor of this emergency lane project.
RDP pointed to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report titled East Coast Rail Project C2 Gombak-Serendah-Port Klang, which has yet to receive approval from the Environment Department (DoE).
However, it is uncertain if the EIA referred to by RDP relates to a different project, given that the deforestation at the Serendah Forest Reserve concerns a project over an emergency route.
“Based on my understanding, an EIA is required for any facilities within a state park, for logging or conversion of forest to other land use within an area adjacent or near to any state park, and for construction of a new railway route or branch lines.
“And if it is part of the ECRL project, then the clearance should at least be mentioned in the ECRL’s EIA,” said Adam Farhan, a spokesman for RDP, when contacted.
“Authorities need to clarify the status of this project,” Adam said.
Even if they have permits, how can they go with the project if the EIA for the main project has not been approved yet?”
The Vibes contacted the hotline number listed on the signboard.
A spokesman for China Communications Construction responded that the company obtained all necessary approvals and permits from the relevant authorities to proceed with the project.
When queried if the project requires the preparation of an EIA and its approval from the DoE, the spokesman said that he would have to obtain information from the company’s management regarding the matter.
The Vibes has contacted Selangor executive councillor (environment, green technology, tourism and indigenous affairs) Hee Loy Sian over the matter for further information and is awaiting his reply.
On December 21, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had announced that the overall cost to complete the ECRL project is now RM74.96 billion, which is RM11.01 billion lower than originally set.
He said that the government will proceed with the project to construct the 665-km-long rail system from Kota Baru in Kelantan to Port Klang in Selangor.
It will entail cost reductions that will not bring many changes to avoid delaying and complicating work and existing negotiations, he said.
The original total development cost (TDC) of the project when launched in 2017 amounted to RM85.97 billion.
The Transport Ministry explained on December 22 that the savings in the TDC were contributed by, among others, the realignment of the track at Section C involving the Temerloh, Serendah-Port Klang alignment.
It also said that the project has been upgraded for passenger and cargo services. – The Vibes, February 2, 2023
