GEORGE TOWN: An environmental group is claiming that problems such as river bank erosion, degradation and a reduction in water quality are rising due to continuous sand mining activities.
“These problems are made worse when the extraction of sand and gravel is done at a rate which exceeds the natural processes of the rate to generate these materials.
“If the problems of sand mining are not handled properly, over exploitation will cause irreversible impact to the natural resources and environment,” said Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) president S.M. Mohamed Idris.
He also expressed distaste over a report by an online news portal on Oct 29 that the first batch of some 55,000 tonnes of sand from Malaysia were sent to the Thoothukudi Port in Tamil Nadu, India.
Various groups have since expressed their concerns over the ongoing export of sand.
Mohamed Idris also urged Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to look seriously into the matter.
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