IPOH: A prawn farming site in Sungai Segari had received prior approval from the Perak State Agriculture Development (SADC), says Datuk Saarani Mohamad.
The Perak Mentri Besar who is also SADC chairman, said he was informed that several meetings were conducted between SADC and the land office to approve several aquaculture companies.
"These companies were allowed to rent the site to build the prawn farm.
"On Jan 27, we were informed that the area was used by Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa), while the state government gave approval to SADC to set up aquaculture farming," he said on Sunday (Jan 31).
Read also: Villagers, environmentalists claim newly-planted mangrove trees have been destroyed near Sungai Segari in Perak
On Saturday (Jan 30), Kuasa and villagers near Sungai Segari in Manjung claimed that an excavator cleared a site where they had planted about 7,000 mangrove trees.
Kuasa vice-chairman Noor Ismady Ahmad Radzuan said despite receiving orders from SADC to stop the excavator to stop operating, clearing works continued until Friday (Jan 29).
Perak Environmental Department director Rosli Zul said they would visit the site by Tuesday (Feb 2).
"If the farms have violated any environmental rules, we will open an investigation paper," he said.
In October last year, fishermen in Sungai Segari claimed that their livelihoods had been affected by pollution in the river.
Saarani is expected to visit the site on Sunday.
