LUMUT: The state government has confirmed that quarrying in Segari Melintang Forest Reserve is not new, with approvals dating back 13 years ago.
State Science, Environment, and Green Technology Committee chairman Teh Kok Lim said according to the Land and Mines Office, 18 quarry companies were granted approvals by the Perak Forestry Department to operate at the site from 2011 to 2021.
"Since 2021, the National Land Council has decided that no new mining or quarrying activities would be permitted within gazetted forest reserves.
"To comply with this ruling, the Perak Land and MInes Office and Forestry Department coordinated to remove 545 hectares of land involved in existing quarrying activities from the Segari Melintang Forest Reserve.
"The degazettement came into effect on May 11 last year," he said in a statement today.
Previously, two environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) requested that the state government reconsider the decision to degazette Segari Melintang Forest Reserve.
On the NGOs' request, Teh said the state government acknowledged the concerns but emphasised that ongoing and future quarrying activities would adhere to mineral tenement laws and existing regulations.
"This includes compliance with the Perak Mineral Enactment (2003), alongside the Mineral Development Act 1994, Environmental Quality Act 1974, and the Town and Country Planning Act 1976 to ensure responsible quarrying practices.".
He added that the state government had approved stricter regulations on mineral management and the expansion of midstream and downstream industries.
"From this year onwards, new mining leases will require approvals for an environmental impact assessment, environmental management plan and social impact assessment.
"Furthermore, quarry companies must secure an erosion sediment control plan, mining operation scheme approval and planning permission based on suitability, current conditions, and active policies," he noted.
He further mentioned that the state government would replace the degazetted area with state land to be declared a new forest reserve.