‘Take steps to prevent halt to extraction of sand and gravel’
Posted on July 17, 2011, Sunday
SIBU: The authorities concerned are urged to take the necessary steps to prevent a halt to sand and gravel extraction.
Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Wong Soon Koh who made the call said he had brought the matter to the attention of the chief minister.
“If there is a stoppage of sand and gravel extraction, the non-supply will have adverse repercussions on the construction industry, and will affect the livelihood of hundreds and hundreds of families,” he told reporters when asked to comment on the matter after declaring open the 2011 Sibu Dental Dental Congress and Trade exhibition at RH hotel here yesterday.
Wong, who is also Second Finance Minister said this was no small matter.
It was reported yesterday that the supply of sand and gravel would run out by next week after a company’s licence to extract them was suspended for failure to submit an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report to the authority.
Magna Focus Sdn Bhd (MFSB) was licensed to extract sand and gravel but could engage sub-contractors for the job.
Secretary of Sarawak Sand and Gravel Extracting sub-committee, Adams Tang on Friday said MFSB’s licence was suspended for not submitting an EIA report to the authority since August last year.
Many sub-contractors had stopped extracting sand and gravel though most of their permits issued by MFSB only expire in November this year.
The result is that the supply of materials would run out by next week.
Sibu produces 60 per cent of the sand supplied to Kuching while 80 percent of that to Bintulu.
‘Take steps to prevent halt to extraction of sand and gravel’
SIBU: The authorities concerned are urged to take the necessary steps to prevent a halt to sand and gravel extraction.
Environment and Public Health Minister Datuk Wong Soon Koh who made the call said he had brought the matter to the attention of the chief minister.
“If there is a stoppage of sand and gravel extraction, the non-supply will have adverse repercussions on the construction industry, and will affect the livelihood of hundreds and hundreds of families,” he told reporters when asked to comment on the matter after declaring open the 2011 Sibu Dental Dental Congress and Trade exhibition at RH hotel here yesterday.
Wong, who is also Second Finance Minister said this was no small matter.
It was reported yesterday that the supply of sand and gravel would run out by next week after a company’s licence to extract them was suspended for failure to submit an Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report to the authority.
Magna Focus Sdn Bhd (MFSB) was licensed to extract sand and gravel but could engage sub-contractors for the job.
Secretary of Sarawak Sand and Gravel Extracting sub-committee, Adams Tang on Friday said MFSB’s licence was suspended for not submitting an EIA report to the authority since August last year.
Many sub-contractors had stopped extracting sand and gravel though most of their permits issued by MFSB only expire in November this year.
The result is that the supply of materials would run out by next week.
Sibu produces 60 per cent of the sand supplied to Kuching while 80 percent of that to Bintulu.
