Predeep Nambiar New Straits Times 24 May 13;
BUKIT MERAH LAKE: It supplies water for drinking, irrigation
GEORGE TOWN: AN environmental interest group has sounded the alarm over rampant land-clearing activities at a piece of reserve land in Perak, raising concerns that it would impact water supply to homes and irrigation to padi fields.
Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM) revealed yesterday that massive encroachment and illegal agricultural activities at the Bukit Merah Lake Reserve in the Kerian district would adversely affect water levels at the lake.
Investigations by SAM affiliate Kuasa Perak (Kuasa) revealed that trees in the 4,446ha (as of 2010) reserve had been felled illegally over the past 12 years and were "replaced" with oil palm plantations.
At a press conference here, SAM president S. M. Mohamed Idris said the situation was alarming, as the irrigation to 24,000ha of the rice bowl in the Kerian district in Perak and South Seberang Perai in Penang would be affected.
"Water from the lake is also used for domestic and industrial purposes, supplying 200,000 residents in the Kerian and Larut, Matang and Selama districts.
"The reserve is an important source of water supply to the lake. It also helps to control floods because a large portion of the reserve area is wetlands and lowlands, which act as flood plains."
Idris added that further exploitation of the reserve exposed the soil surface to excess runoff during heavy rains.
"This will lead to siltation, sediment deposition and other runoffs into the lake."
Idris urged the authorities to take stringent action against the encroachers in accordance with section 425 of the National Land Code 1965.
Meanwhile, Kuasa secretary Afandi Ahmad added that the water level in the lake was a cause for concern as the lake would become unstable as more land clearing took place.
"Currently, the lake's stable water level is at 8.68m and the minimum level is at 6.09m. If it rains continuously for three days, the level in the lake can hit 9.1m.
"If this happens, the water from the lake has to be released to avoid submerging of the Lake Town resort. However, in the end, the water would flow downstream to the Kerian district, causing flash floods, similar to the ones experienced in past years."
