REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS CAMERON HIGHLANDS

No.1, Jalan Besar, 39100 Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Pahang Darul Makmur
Tel: 05-491 4950, 491 5950 Fax: 05-491 5832 E-mail: reach@reach.org.my
http://www.reach.org.my

12th March 2004

Ketua Pengarah Alam Sekitar Malaysia

Jabatan Alam Sekitar
Kementerian Sains, Teknologi dan Alam Sekitar
Aras 3-7, Block C4
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
62662 Putrajaya.
(u.p. En. Abdul Aziz Abdul Rasol)

Additional Information – DEIA for the Proposed Rehabilitation of Ringlet

Reservoir, Cameron Highlands. February 2004.

1.0 Project Options

Justification for selecting Sg. Jasin area.

The field visit on 18th August 2003 for the purpose of identifying additional potential
disposal areas did not justify the findings.

REACH refers to the letter from TNB Ref: TNBE/HED/2/1/320/00/12 dated 10

September 2003 which states that Site 1: Sg. Sok Moi is one of the potential site. Firstly,
the site is assumed to belong to TNB and is presently occupied by farmers. The area
available for placement of sediment is about 200m long by 150m wide and the maximum
volume of sediment that could be placed is estimated at 150,000m3. REACH questions
these statistics as our investigation shows that TNB’s reserve land in that area is 22 acres
(9 hectare). As this area has been cleared for farms, it would be more suitable for
dumping the silt, compared to destroying primary montane forest.

The present area, Sg. Jasin and Sg. Jasik falls under Permanent Forest Reserve (Hutan
Simpan Ringlet), refer to pg 4-4 of Additional Information – DEIA for the proposed
rehabilitation of Ringlet Reservoir, Cameron Highlands (Feb 2004).

Recommendation: REACH requests TNB to carry out a proper survey giving details of a
more suitable area (hectare) together with the estimated volume of sediment storage.

2.0 Project Description

2.1 Question (DO)

As TNB is in the process of obtaining approval from the TNB office for the proposed
methodology, REACH questions TNB’s present action in dumping the silt at Sg. Jasin
 REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS CAMERON HIGHLANDS
No.1, Jalan Besar, 39100 Brinchang, Cameron Highlands, Pahang Darul Makmur
Tel: 05-491 4950, 491 5950 Fax: 05-491 5832 E-mail: reach@reach.org.my
http://www.reach.org.my

area. At present, the contractor is employing ‘bulldoze and bury’ method of the standing
biomass, which should not be practiced.

Recommendation: The standing biomass should be properly disposed and not bulldoze
and bury. This is to ensure that there are no problems in future. However, REACH does
not prescribe this method of destroying the limited montane forest areas in Cameron
Highlands. There are other alternatives which REACH would like TNB to consider.

3.6 Noise

There have been complaints from local residents living nearby the decantation pond.
REACH would like TNB to do further noise level testing at the site, nearby Lakeview
Villa (see attached letter from local resident, which will be presented at the meeting).

4.1.1.8.2 Construction Phase

The report emphasizes that the montane forest with this type of ecosystem is scarce
within the country. The entire section in the report leads to one conclusion, that this
forested area should be left undisturbed.

4.1.2.2. Bird Survey

The bird species list provided in the report states 11 new species has been recorded in the
site. Also a potential new species for Peninsular Malaysia, the Waterfall Swift have been
recorded. With the rapid development and deforestation in Cameron Highlands, valuable
species could be lost. The finding of the potential new species proves that the forest in
the site is still capable of having rich biological diversity and must be conserved.

Recommendation: REACH would like TNB to provide a detail conservation management

plan for the site.

As time is limited for us to review the entire report, REACH will provide more comments
on the meeting day.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Ramakrishnan R.
President REACH.

Protect Mother Nature, Protect Our Future