 |
|
|
|
| » Articles |
|
 |
BELUM-TEMENGOR MUST BE PROTECTED |
 |
Photo credit:
KS Cheang / MNS |
20-04-2006
The Sun Daily
FOR YEARS now incidences of river pollution, indiscriminate logging (even in areas designated as parks), illegal dumping of rubbish, dumping of wastes by illegal factories and hill clearing for development have been highlighted by the mass media. The reports have increased, as the numbers of cases are becoming more frequent and the people less tolerant after having to cope with incessant flash floods and with foul smelling water from their taps.
Despite the media glare, official responses seem to be more knee-jerk than a real and comprehensive effort to solve them that can only be undertaken after a full understanding of the problems. While reports of flash floods and poor water quality near the federal capital do receive the attention of officials, elsewhere, away from the media spotlight, little serious effort is being made to correct the situation.
Logging in the Belum and Temenggor forest in violation of sustainable forestry practices is a case in point. It is as if frequent media reports of the overlogging, illegal logging, river pollution, illegal dumping and hill clearing have inured the officials to these problems that they no longer see them as requiring urgent attention.
Everyone knows that indiscriminate logging, especially illegal timber extraction, resulting in river siltation is interfering with the capacity of the rivers to drain away quickly huge volumes of rainwater. Everyone knows that factories along the banks of these rivers dump wastes, even toxic substances, into these rivers. Everyone also knows that the siltation of the rivers is also caused by land clearing for housing and other projects.
If everyone knows then surely the agencies that authorise these activities would know because they are monitoring the situation. They would also know of similar activities that are going on without their authorisation.
These agencies must thus take the necessary action just as the Perak state government must take the necessary action to conserve the forests of the Belum valley and its rivers.
They must ensure that there is no indiscriminate logging, especially illegal activity, as the forests, besides being important water catchment areas, are also known biological hotspots and shelter an array of unique plants and animals.
|
|
| | | |
|
|
|
