Turtle landing site near Segari under threat from sand-mining, says environmental group

Source: The Star

IPOH: The turtle landing site at the Pasir Panjang beach in Segari is being threatened by silica sand mining activities, says an environmental group.

Environmental Activists Society (Kuasa) secretary Noor Ismady Ahmad Radzuan said the turtle landing season is between March and September.

He said drone visuals captured showed that such sand-mining activities are being carried out near the Sungai Puyu and Puyu Tg Hantu estuary.

"We are concerned that the night-time transfer activities of the sand would affect turtle landings.

"The Pasir Panjang Segari beach landing site is an environmentally sensitive area, which is being threatened by the silica sand transfer activities during the landing season," he said.

Noor Ismady said on March 27, Kuasa received several visuals from villagers nearby on barges starting to dock at Pasir Pandak.

He said on April 2, activists had gone to the site with the villagers to identify the complaints received about the night time activities at the beach.

"Drone visuals showed that there was a barge at the temporary jetty, but no movement of any machinery.

"Then on April 4, Kuasa received complaints from local fishermen that a barge and anchor tug boats along the front of the long sandy beach were disturbing coastal fishermen as they could not drift their nets.

"We also received information on the location of a second ship near Pangkor island for shipment, meaning more activities would be carried out during the night, so that sand transfer could be sped up during the day," he added

Noor Ismady also said that activists visited the area during the day to identify complaints of old mines not being closed as well.

"Through drone footage, most of the mines are abandoned without being closed," he added.

When contacted Perak science, environment and green technology committee chairman Teh Kok Lim said striking a balance between conservation and development is always challenging.

He said that as such, planning approval and an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are required to ensure proper decisions are made.

"I will alert the Perak Land and Mines Department, as well as the Minerals and Geoscience Department to seriously look into the complaints," he added.