Penang DID refutes land reclamation claim in Batu Ferringhi

GEORGE TOWN: Penang Drainage and Irrigation (DID) Department refuted reports claiming that the RM10.8 million project in Batu Ferringhi beachfront was a land reclamation project.
Northeast district engineer Haslinda Hamran clarified it was a beach beautification project and not reclamation as reported by certain media.
She said beach nourishment project, scheduled to be completed by end this month, was an environment one from federal government and implemented by state DID.
The project component, she added, comprise two outfalls measuring 120m in Sungai Batu Ferringhi and Sungai Satu with 800m of beach beautification along tourism belt to prevent river pollution.
Haslinda said they applied from state government to dredge sand at nearby Sungai Kelian, Sungai Mas and Sungai Kechil as part of the works.
Residents along the shore in Tanjung Bungah were against the sand dredging works in their neighbourhood which caused nuisance.
However, state DID had given assurance that the place would return to normal soon after dredging works finished.