GEORGE TOWN: Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) believes there is a need for the Penang government to submit a fresh Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) application for the scaled down Penang South Islands (PSI) project.
SAM president Meenakshi Raman said since there was a change in the development concept, both in the design and the statement of need, there was a need for a new EIA report to be submitted.
"In my view, yes. Our view is that a new EIA is required.
"Since the project involves only one island now, there needs to be a new hydraulic and hydrology impact assessment which covers current flow, water level, wave conditions, sedimentation, erosion and such. This will change from having one island instead of three islands as was the case earlier.
"In addition, the shrimp migration study which was required to be done earlier under the EIA, and was approved, is yet to be completed. This is a vital component to be assessed since the reclamation of island A involves 920 hectares (ha), which is still very significant in terms of impact to marine life, shrimp migration, food security and so on.
"Moreover, the statement of need for the project too has changed, now that the federal government is providing the funds needed to address transport woes of the state," she told the New Straits Times when contacted.
Yesterday, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow announced that Penang would do away with two of three islands of the controversial PSI reclamation project.
This would mean scaling down 49 per cent of the project.
Island A, now known as Silicon Island, measures about 920ha while islands B and C, about 560ha and 320ha respectively.
Asked if there was a need for a new EIA to be submitted, Chow said he did not think so as the previous approval was for three islands.
"It is just that we are now proceeding with only one island," he was quoted as saying.
Meenakshi said, in fact, that was one of the 71 conditions which were imposed on the EIA approval on April 11.
"One of the 71 conditions imposed on the state in respect of the EIA is that, if there is any change in the development concept, a fresh approval from the Director-General of the Department of Environment (DoE) is required.
"Hence, the DoE approval must be sought again.
"Again, it is our view that since the project involves only one island now, there must be a new EIA," she added.
According to Meenakshi, the state can no longer rely on the DoE's approval back in April and proceed with the environmental management plan (EMP) in view of the change that has occurred.