JURU: A swathe of the last remaining mangrove forest here is allegedly being cleared indiscriminately, believed to be for the development of aquaculture ponds.
The location is accessible via a bund road that starts at the Sungai Belanak Fisherman Jetty towards the Permanent Food Production Park (TKPM).
Machineries were spotted at the site recently to clear the 0.9ha mangrove forest and level the muddy soil.
Checks by NSTP at the area today showed the entrance had been cordoned off with a black trawler net.
Next to it was a shrimp pond, which has been in operations for the past five years.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president S.M. Mohamed Idris urged the Penang government, the Seberang Prai Municipal Council, the Drainage and Irrigation Department, state Forestry Department and the Seberang Prai Tengah Land and District Office to investigate the destruction of mangrove forest in the area.
“In a survey along the bund road in Juru, Bukit Tengah recently, we were shocked to see machinery used to clear the mangrove forest and the muddy soil being leveled while being observed by several individuals there.
“We also spoke to a number of people passing by the bund road, who stated that they did not know the nature of the project to be implemented. Some said it is likely for development of aquaculture ponds.
“We are surprised that the small area of remaining mangrove forests in this area has been cleared indiscriminately,” he said.
Based on information and previous studies, SAM found that more than half of the mangrove forests in the state were converted before 1990.
According to one study, in the 1950s, Penang was covered with about 3,500ha of mangrove forests.
Currently, the remaining area of mangrove forests in Penang island and Seberang Prai is not more than 400ha.
“Our query is who had cleared the mangrove forest and for what purpose. Is it for aquaculture development? Whatever the purpose, we at SAM are disappointed whenever mangroves are destroyed as everyone knows about the importance and benefits of mangrove forests to the coastal area, more so since the tsunami in December 2004.
“In view of this, we want to know the status of the mangrove forest here and the purpose of the destructive activity conducted and whether it has been approved by the government,” he said, adding that SAM also noticed that there were no signboards or notices to indicate the nature of the project to be implemented in the area.
Idris hoped the Penang government and the agencies involved would pay serious attention and take immediate action to stop the operations here if the activity did not comply with existing laws and would have an adverse impact on the environment.
He added that the findings of this investigation should be announced immediately so that the public is aware.
“In the event that the operation is found to have been conducted illegally, stringent action must be taken on the offender and the area is rehabilitated with the costs incurred by the offender,” he demanded.
Meanwhile, a Kampung Bukit Kecil villager, known only as Bujang, 60, said he was unaware of the clearing works being carried out at the nearby mangrove forest.
“I did see several machineries entering the mangrove area recently but had no clue what they were doing as they were no signboards up.
“However, judging from the large hole, it may be a pond,” said the man who has been staying there for the past eight years.
Bujang said several ponds were already in existence near the mangrove forest but did not expect new ones to be up.
“While the ponds may be good for those running them, I can’t say the same for the fishermen, especially the 100-odd fishermen in Sungai Belanak.
“The shrimp pond nearby is already posing numerous problems to the fishermen. If new ponds are to come up, I dread to imagine what will happen to the fishermen in the future,” he added.
Bujang said if permission had been granted for the works, he demanded answers from the authorities on why their application for settlement in the area was rejected in the past.
“Why is the shrimp ponds allowed and not settlement for us?” he asked.