More forest damage was detected, it was the turn of Teluk Akuan Beach

 Drone recording was made by KUASA at HSK (Permanent Forest Reserve) Segari Melintang. - Foto FB Otai Manjung

by Sinar Harian/ NORMAWATI ADNAN | | January 24, 2021

IPOH - The impact of environmental destruction in the Segari Melintang Permanent Forest Reserve (HSK) area in Manjung is said to be getting more serious when it has spread to Teluk Akuan Beach near Sungai Batu, Segari.

The latest revelation made by the Sahabat Alam (KUASA) Activists Association found that the beach which was one of the turtle landings and the fisherman's stopover was contaminated with red soil believed to be the result of quarry development.

Deputy Chairman of KUASA, Ismady Radzuan said, through the recording of the drone, the condition of the coast has changed murky and the coast is surrounded by red soil.

According to him, in the video taken, it can be seen that the water flow of the nearby creek is mixed with red soil and flows into the sea area.

 

Ismady shows the path of the affected Teluk Akuan tributary causing the water to be murky due to the red soil mixture.  Foto FB Otai

"We followed the path of this tributary and found that there was erosion of red soil to fill part of the forest reserve while in some areas there were dead trees as a result of the red soil pile.

"The red soil then fills the coastal area which results in the coastal area as if it is covered with red soil. The cause is most likely due to forest activities in the nearby compartment," he said in a message shared via the WhatsApp application on Saturday.

The revelation was also shared by him on Otai Manjung's Facebook after more than a week of the issue of the destruction of Tanjung Batu Waterfall, Segari was made.

 

The situation in some areas of HSK Segari Melintang which is filled with red soil which is the cause of Teluk Akuan beach is affected. - Foto FB Otai Manjung

Ismady said the damage to the beach had a direct impact on the natural beauty of the area as well as marine life on the beach.

He said, although the beach area is not very well known, but it still plays an important role to fishermen who make it a stopover area to shelter from storms and a place to supply clean water from the waterfall area. 

"Fishermen informed that turtles are still landing here, in fact it is also a recreational beach for residents, especially fishing families who go down to the sea.

"So we hope, this problem can be handled well by all parties, just like the action taken by the authorities in the issue of Tanjung Batu Waterfall," he said.

In the meantime, Perak Exco for Health, Science, Environment and Green Technology, Mohd Akmal Kamaruddin said, his party is aware of the matter and has instructed the Department of Environment (DOE) to make further inspections at the location mentioned.

Perak DOE director, Rosli Zul when contacted confirmed that he had sent a team of officers to the field after being informed on Sunday morning.

"An integrated investigation involving DOE, the Forestry Department, Perak Minerals and Geosciences Department as well as the state Exco Office Officer will go to the field to conduct an investigation," he said.

The condition of the shores of Teluk Akuan Beach which is polluted with red soil. - Foto FB Otai Manjung

The condition of the shores of Teluk Akuan Beach which is polluted with red soil. - Foto FB Otai ManjungGulf Coast Aquaculture damages the Perak forest

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Nb: Article is translated from Sinar Harian ...dated 24 January 2021