KUANTAN, Oct 1 (NNN-BERNAMA) — The Selangor government has been urged to preserve the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve to ensure environmental sustainability for the developed state.
Making this call, Environment and Water Minister, Datuk Seri Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said the forest reserve status should be preserved as the area served as a conservation area for flora and fauna, as well as a water catchment area.
“Areas that have been gazetted (as forest reserves) should remain as even though a state government may want to tap these to meet economic needs. We cannot avoid development but the future implications should be a priority,” he said.
Tuan Ibrahim was speaking to reporters after launching the Drainage and Irrigation Department’s Innovation Day 2020 celebration, which was also attended by its director-general, Datuk Ir Nor Hisham Mohd Ghazali and state director, Ir Mohd Noor Bidi.
He was responding to the Selangor government’s action of holding a public hearing session last Tuesday for the proposed abolition of the Kuala Langat North Forest Reserve, Tanjung Dua Belas sub-district, Kuala Langat involving an area of about 1,971 hectares, which was opposed by many parties.
On another development, Tuan Ibrahim is optimistic that the river conservation projects to reduce flood risks nationwide under the additional allocation of RM66 million can be completed before the monsoon season starts at the end of this year.
He said a project had begun in Kelantan last Sunday and was expected to be completed in a month.
Meanwhile, Nor Hisham said several flood-mitigation projects (RTB) had been stalled due to the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) but the contractors were now given an extension of three months..
“Although the construction work can resume now, we hope the current COVID-19 outbreak will not be worse so that these projects could continue until completion.
“In Pahang, the RTB Cameron Highlands was completed in September while two more projects in Sungai Belat in Kuantan and Bandar Pekan are expected to be completed next year,” he added.
— NNN-BERNAMA