Reclamation of Island A set to begin in June
Reclamation work on Island A, one of three islands of the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project, is expected to kick off in the middle of June, the Penang government said yesterday.
Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman said reclamation work would begin as soon as they received approval for the Environment Management Plan (EMP) from the Department of Environment (DoE).
The EMP was one of 72 conditions stipulated in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval for the massive reclamation project.
It was meant to minimise any adverse environmental impact arising from the project. The EIA approval has a two-year validity period, which expires in June.
“We expect to obtain approval for the EMP somewhere between the end of May and early June. Once we obtain the approval, we will begin reclamation work on Island A. We are working towards that.
“The Penang government is committed to undertaking the project as scheduled,” he said in Permatang Damar Laut here yesterday.
Island A measures 920 hectares. Reclamation
work for Phase 1 would involve 480ha, which is expected to be completed by 2026 or 2027. The overall reclamation work on Island A would take nine years to complete.
Preliminary survey and soil investigations began last month in the vicinity of Island A, especially in the Phase 1 area. It would take about three months to complete with the aim of getting the latest seabed level and determine the site condition.
“The state government will ensure that reclamation work is carried out according to the conditions set out in the EIA approved back in 2019. Environmental control measures will be deployed to minimise effects when the project is implemented,” Zakiyuddin added.