Water retention ponds in Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve are illegal
ALOR STAR: The Kedah Forestry Department said the five water retention ponds found at Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve, Sik, would have been relocated if they knew of their existence in the first place.
Its deputy director of Operations, Mohd Rahim Ramli said they would try to find the best solution as logging in the area would destroy the water retention ponds and affect the catchment area.
"The five water retention ponds were constructed illegally by residents of Kampung Paya Terendam, Kampung Durian Burung, and Kampung Balong Ayam," he told Bernama when met at his office here, today.
The retention ponds were for the collection of stormwater to be used for domestic purposes.
Yesterday, the Water Supply Protection Action Committee chairman, Mohd Sobri Ramlee urged the authorities to take appropriate action to address logging in the forest reserve.
He claimed that three of the five retention ponds were destroyed following logging activities. The retention ponds were constructed in the 1980s to supply water to the home of the residents.
Rahim said he had discussed the matter with Belantik State Assemblyman Datuk Mohd Tajudin Abdullah who agreed to help provide water supply to the villagers.
A central retention pond would be constructed in the forest reserve with an allocation from Tajudin, and supported by the logging company under their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.
"This central retention pond can be utilised by all the residents of the three villages. The construction work is already underway and likely to be completed by the end of this month."
Tajudin is also the State Information, Rural Development and Poverty Eradication Committee chairman.
Rahim said Bukit Enggang Forest Reserve comprises some 6,693 hectares, of which 1,856 hectares were gazetted as protected forest while another 4,835 were classified as production forest.
"Of the 4,835 hectares, about 1,000ha were approved for a forest plantation by PMBKed (Kedah Mentri Besar Incorporated). We approved logging for the forest plantation project."
He added the area had to be developed as it was cleared illegally by villagers who went on to apply for land ownership from the state government. — Bernama