Sand mining ops “far from nesting site”

Date: 25 September 2007
By: R.S.N. Murali
Source: The Star

SETIU: Sand mining operations at Tebing Pasir Penarik, here, will not affect the area designated for the nesting site of river terrapins.

State Agriculture and Regional Development committee chairman Datuk Mohd Jidin Shafee assured environmentalists that the permission for the sand mining operation was only granted after taking into consideration the ecological impact on the area.

“The nesting site is far away from where the operation is concentrated and we have not received any reports that the terrapins had shied away from the area,” he said in an interview.

Mohd Jidin said the state also had initiated a move to protect other river terrapin nesting sites here.

“We are serious in protecting them and we are closely monitoring any development which could affect its natural habitat,” he said.

Recently, The Star reported that the villagers and turtle research organisation are upset over the sand mining operation.

Villagers of Kampung Mangkuk were shocked to learn about the sand mining, which was launched in the area recently and were worried about the effects on the terrapins, a critically endangered species.

Village headman Awang Janus said they were told that the project would result in the deepening of Sungai Setiu for use by large boats.

He expressed disgust with the sand mining, saying villagers were not consulted over the matter.

The turtle egg collectors were also kept in the dark, he added.

Awang said the sand mining would also endanger the homes located nearby, as there would likely be massive erosion.

Prof Chan Eng Heng, who heads the Turtle Research and Rehabilitation Group in Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, was also upset to hear of the sand mining operations.

She said river terrapins would never return to nest in the area if the banks were destroyed and the population will be greatly affected if the operation is continued and the reptiles will become extinct in less than 10 years.