Perak govt denies seabed mining activities along coastal area
IPOH: The state government has denied allegations of seabed tin mining activities along the coastal area of the Sungai Batu estuary in the Manjung District, which is said to have affected the livelihood of fishermen.
During the winding-up session of the Perak State Assembly on Tuesday (April 22), Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad clarified that checks with the relevant agencies confirmed that no approval has been granted for any mining activities in the area.
'The Minerals and Geoscience Department confirmed that no Mining Operation Scheme Approval Letter has been issued.
'Any mining activity can only be carried out after obtaining approval,' he said.
Saarani said that although an application (mining) has been submitted to the department, the application is still under evaluation, and no operational approval has been granted so far.
According to Saarani, the only activity currently taking place is a silica sand mining by a developer with a valid approval.
'The sand mining site is located five kilometres away from the turtle landing area at Pantai Pasir Panjang,' he noted.
He further explained that under the amended Manjung District Local Plan 2030, the coastal area in question has been designated as a Level 3 Environmentally Sensitive Coastal Zone in relation to marine ecosystem conservation and is prohibited from any form of mining activity.
'A decision was made to reject any mining applications or license renewals in the area, in line with the state government's commitment to protect the environment and the interests of the fishing community.
'The State Government remains committed to monitoring the area and will take immediate action to halt any unapproved mining activities if detected,' he added.
In February this year, more than 1,500 fishermen who rely on coastal resources for their livelihood had urged the relevant authorities to revoke the approval granted for a seabed tin mining project scheduled to be carried out along the coastal area of the district.
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