TAIPING: The Mentri Besar Incorporated (MBI) of Perak has issued a directive to the appointed operator to temporarily stop operating a quarry following complaints of polluted water sources faced by Orang Asli villagers of Kampung Kelatap, Pos Perwor near Sungai Siput.
Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad said the notice was issued by MBI on Jan 12 to ensure that restoration works were carried out immediately.
"Among the restoration works that need to be expedited include leveling the land in the area that has been opened as well as building a dam to prevent the passage of water flowing into the water catchment area.
"This work has also been carried out since Jan 13 until today by the operator of the project," he said at a press conference after launching Taiping Town's 150th Anniversary Celebration here, Saturday (Jan 20).
He said from an investigation, it was found that the pollution occurred as a result of the opening of land for a sediment pond in the area as well as the release of waste from a septic tank that did not follow the specifications set out in the approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
"The investigation was carried out by the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) and MBI and from the information obtained, we admit that the pollution occurred as a result of the two factors," he said.
Besides, he said approval for the quarry mining project which began in September last year followed approval from the relevant technical agencies.
"We hope that all the restoration works can be carried out as best as possible and most importantly the Orang Asli in the area will be able to get a supply of clean water again as before," he said.
On Friday (Jan 19), more than 100 Orang Asli residents of Kampung Kelatap, Pos Perwor near Sungai Siput issued a statement to demonstrate their unhappiness over the threat of diseases when their source of water was allegedly contaminated due to the quarry project.
In the same statement, they claimed that for more than two years, the residents have been using water contaminated with faeces and waste from the toilet belonging to the workers' shared quarters at the project site. - Bernama
