Penang submits EIA report for reclamation projects

> Chow: Now up to DOE to hold public hearings

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has submitted an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report on the South Reclamation Scheme to the Department of Environment (DOE) for review.

State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said it was submitted at the end of last month.

He said the EIA for the scheme was required to fulfil the conditions required by the National Physical Planning Council.

He said the next step was for the DOE to organise public hearings and hold public exhibitions on the matter, probably within the next three months.

The proposed plan to reclaim three islands – 930ha, 485ha and 323ha – off the south coast of Penang island is to fund the RM27 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

SRS Consortium has been appointed the Project Delivery Partner (PDP) for the PTMP, that features highways, light rail transit (LRT) systems and other public transport options.

On the EIA for the LRT and the Pan Island Link, Chow said he expects the documents to be submitted either this month or next month.

In regard to the three highway projects by Zenith Consortium Sdn Bhd, Chow said the EIA has been submitted to the DOE for approval.

“We are awaiting approval from the DOE,” he said of the 12km Tanjung Bunga to Teluk Bahang paired-road, a 4.6km bypass between Air Itam and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and a 4.2km highway between Gurney Drive and Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.

Chow, who is also the Penang DAP chairman, was speaking after leading a DAP delegation on a visit to the Penang Malay Chamber of Commerce.