RAUB: Heavy rain in Fraser's Hill near here saw muddy water gushing down from a hillside, resulting in low-lying areas around the popular lake, Allan's Water, to be inundated.
The main entrance to Allan's Water, the only lake at the hill station, and the paddleboat store were flooded with murky water during the 1pm incident on Sunday.
Persatuan Alam dan Warisan Bukit Fraser (PAWBF) chairman Nik Jassmin Hew said the incident had raised concerns about the plans to build the 15-storey Fraser's Hill Resort and Spa in the vicinity.
She said the muddy water gushing down the hill near the lake during the downpour was from the project site which was located barely metres away.
"This has never happened before and this time following the continuous monsoon rain, water gushed down the hill resulting in a section (around) the lake to be flooded.
"The muddy water came from the construction site which is located on a hilly area.
"If a few hours of heavy rain can result in such a mess, just imagine what will happen (throughout) the resort construction works which is expected to take six years to complete.
"I am not sure how things are going to be (in case of heavy rain) once (construction) starts," she said when contacted.
Nik Jassmin said the muddy water had also left a trail of destruction with soil erosion spotted along the slopes near the proposed resort site, while the heavy gush of water had left traces of soil at the nearby drains.
"The construction site could not accommodate the excessive running water during heavy rain which resulted in the low-lying areas to be inundated.
"This has sparked concerns if the project site will be able to accommodate monsoon rain or risk large volumes of water to run off the hills," she said.
A colonial-style bungalow and an abandoned resort at the current project site here were demolished in July to make way for the 181-room Fraser's Hill Resort and Spa project, which reportedly includes a swimming pool.
However, the move raised concerns among environmentalists who said the project would have an adverse effect on the lake and could trigger major soil movement in the area.
PAWBF had urged the developer to review its plans before a stop-work order was issued by the Raub district office, which also ordered for the building's design to be revised.
Meanwhile, it is learnt that the Raub District and Land Office had sent their officers to the site investigate the incident on Sunday.