As the rivers in the country continue to become shallower, the Natural Resources and Environmental Ministry feels the time has come for the government to allow more people to mine and export sand. The move, the ministry said, would not only save the government billions ofringgit spent on deepening rivers and protecting their embankments, but would also allow the state governments to collect royalties and prevent illegal sand export. “Other than Kelantan and Pahang, rivers in most states have become shallower, especially in areas where logging, plantation and development are taking place, which cause siltation. “I have discussed this issue with the prime minister, and we agreed (to allow export of sand),” he told the New Straits Times. They will make the river shallow and this can lead to floods.”Wan Junaidi said the ministry had agreed to give permission to eight companies to apply for the approval permits (APs), which would allow them to export river sand.

Source: New Strait Times November 21, 2017 04:41 UTC