Khalid rubbishes Khir Toyo’s claims of illegal sand mining

Selangor Mentri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim today rubbished his predecessor's claims that RM220 million worth of sand has been excavated illegally in Dengkil.

He said Datuk Seri Dr Khir Toyo’s statement, backed by reports published in The Star and Utusan Malaysia, hold no water because Kuala Langat district office has granted a mining permit to Cheong Weng Trading in January 2010. Khir is now the Selangor opposition chief.

“The mining area is also not in Bukit Changgang as reported by the dailies, it is in Kampung Olak Lempit,” he said, adding that the mining site covers only 120 acres of land, and not 120 hectares as reported earlier.

“First phase operation covers 60 acres, while the second phase will commence once the area identified for mining is cleared,” said Khalid.

Khalid said that approval for mining has also been obtained from Works Department, Irrigation and Drainage Department, Department of Mineral and Geoscience, Department of Enviroment and Selangor Waters Management Authority.

“Enviro Enhance Sdn Bhd, a consultant firm, is responsible in drafting and submitting a monthly report on the mining operations to the Department of Environment,” he said.

According to him, 10 million tonnes of sand worth RM7 million had been sold since the mining operations began in January, not 10 million tonnes of sand worth RM220 million as reported by the dailies.

“It is impossible to excavate 10 million tonnes in two weeks because we need 500,000 lorries to transport that much of sand,” he quipped.

However, he said, the state government has identified areas where illegal sand mining is rampant in Selangor and is taking necessary actions to curb the problem.



comments

These UMNO freaks are just too used to mark up the prices... What to do, occupational disease.