Residents have expressed their concerns over the sand excavation in Sungai Rajah near Kampung Lee Kim Sai, Rawang, and say it has to be monitored.
Rawang assemblyman Gan Pei Nei said she had received reports and had sent it to the relevant agencies for further action.
She hoped Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd Bhd and the Gombak Land Office would investigate the matter.
“The approval permit to extract sand here is supposedly held by Kumpulan Semesta and monitored by the Gombak District Land office.
“I have asked for clarification from the company on this matter and they have yet to get back to me.
“I have urged the residents to report sand-mining activities to the police,’’ she said.
Gan said she had also received information that a few JKKK chairmen in Rawang were involved in the activity.
“I know that in Kampung Lee Kim Sai, there is a project to widen the river but I have not received any report on the contractor.
“I was also informed that there was illegal sand mining in Taman Jati and Kuala Garing in Rawang and the contractors have no permit to take out the sand from these areas.
“These activities have been going on for a few months now. I have informed the Gombak Land Office and Kumpulan Semesta but nothing has been done,’’ she said.
Gombak Drainage and Irrigation Department district engineer Mohd Fuad Buang said there was extraction of sand from a site in Kampung Lee Kim Sai, stretching about 1.5km.
“We visited the site and have sent our report to Kumpulan Semesta.
“If the activity here is approved, there should be a signboard at the site to notify the public.
“If not, then passers-by would assume it is illegal,’’ he said.
He added that residents also complained about the contractor building an illegal structure near the river in Kampung Lee Kim Sai to extract sand.
“Although the contractor has the supporting documents, the area to mine sand was a different place. We hope that the authorities will monitor the situation,’’ he said.
Kumpulan Semesta senior government liason and admin manager Yusaini Sabian could not be reached for comments.
By Stuart Michae l ( thestar )
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Source: thestar, July 22, 2010;