KUALA MUDA: Residents of Kampung Masjid Lama Jeniang here are crying foul over a sand mining activity near their village which they claimed was causing worrying cliff and riverbank erosion along Sungai Muda.
Residents claimed that sand mining activities at the quarry site had also resulted in an alteration to the river's currents, threatening to ruin a scenic recreation area for the locals.
Checks at the site showed that the mining operation is located approximately 200 meters from the nearest home, with a cliff erosion site in between, resulting from the mining operation as claimed by the villagers.
Ahmad Nazari Abdul, whose home is dangerously close to the cliff erosion site, expressed his grave concern over the safety of his family and neighbours.
Ahmad, 42, claimed that he had to spend more than RM35,000 to repair his home's flooring, walls, and ceiling due to damages allegedly caused by the erosion.
"This quarry has been in operation since early January and the soil erosion occurred during a rainy day around late January.
"We are worried by our safety as the erosion gets worse," said the odd-job worker when met at the site yesterday.
Abdul Majid Sudin, 55, said the sand mining has caused the waters of Sungai Muda near the village to become murky, deeper and eroding its banks, spoiling the scenic spot.
"This land is our heritage. This stretch of Sungai Muda has been part of our life for generations. We bathe, fish, and unwind here. It is truly beautiful and could have been a tourist attraction.
"It's disheartening to witness how the mining has impacted our beloved river," he lamented.
Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahtera Malaysia (Grass) Kedah chapter activist Mohd Sobri Ramlee claimed that the quarry's proximity to several key structures violates the guidelines under River Sand Extraction (Amendment 2020).
"We have discovered that the distance from the quarry site to the Jeniang Bridge is just about 900 meters. The guideline stipulates a minimum distance of 1,000 meters.
"However, the sand suction boats are getting closer to Jeniang Bridge by the day.
"The quarry is also too close to other structures such as Masjid Lama Jeniang (320m), Masjid Safwan (635m) and a graveyard next to the river (640m)," he added.
Sobri said residents had raised formal complaints to the Drainage and Irrigation Department, Lands and Mines Department and Department of Environment (DoE).
"The residents have even complained to Jeneri assemblyman, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor, but no action has been taken," claimed Sobri.
Meanwhile, when contacted, state Public Works, Water Supply and Water Resources, Irrigation and Drainage and Energy committee chairman Mohamad Yusoff Zakaria said that he has been briefed by the Lands and Mines Department over the situation.
State DoE director Sharifah Zakiah Syed Sahab said that the DoE's jurisdiction does not extend to sand quarry operations under 20 hectares, exempting the quarry from the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Order 2015.
She said that the quarry had also received a licence to operate from the Kuala Muda District Office and the Lands and Mines Department.