Thursday March 27, 2008
No adverse impact on flora on isle
THE proposed water storage tank and retention pond project on Pulau Jerejak will not have an adverse impact on flora and medicinal plants such as tongkat ali, kacip fatimah and aromatic gaharu, state executive councillor Chow Kon Yeow said.

He said the project did not involve the clearing of forest reserve that boasts such vegetation.

“Only the secondary forest will be cleared to make way for the water storage tank and retention pool to store some 45 million litres of water transferred via pipe from mainland to cater to Bayan Lepas Free Industrial zone, Batu Maung and Pulau Jerejak,” said Chow.

He said based on a report from the state Forestry Department, 295ha of forest reserve would be left untouched.

“The project only involves 3.54ha of the total 362ha of Pulau Jerejak,” he said, allaying nature lovers’ fear the development would destroy the pristine environment.

The project to build the facilities started last December and would be completed within 18 months.

Chow said the Forestry Department hoped the contractor, Premidon Construction, would carry out the work well to minimise erosion risk.

“The contractor has been told to build a silt trap and drainage system to mitigate erosion and control the pollution to the sea.”

He said all the trees cut to develop the project would also be transported back to the mainland for disposal.

“We prohibit burning on the island,” he said.