THE Penang government has published details of the 72 conditions set by the Environment Department (DoE) for the approval of the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project. 

The project was green-lighted after receiving the approval of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report earlier this month.

In a statement today, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said 56 out of the 72 conditions are general conditions related to the project under these principal topics:

Compliance; description of determined activities; project concept and design; licence; land disturbing-pollution prevention and mitigation measures (LD-P2M2); land reclamation and dredging activities control; control of dredging activities/offshore sand mining/land or river sand mining; air quality control and monitoring; water quality control and monitoring; noise and vibration control and monitoring; hydrograph monitoring (for land reclamation / marine mining); waste management that includes scheduled waste, solid waste disposal, chemicals and petroleum; transportation and storage of scheduled waste; and control and preventive measures.

The rest of the conditions are specifically on an environment management plan (EMP) which stipulates that the EMP shall be prepared in accordance with the format and requirement stipulated and to be submitted to DoE Penang for approval prior to the project’s commencement, Chow said.

Under Section 33A of the Environmental Quality Act, clause 63 and 64 details out that an environmental audit to be conducted every four months during earthwork and construction phases and annually during the operation phase (if required).

“The roles and duties of the environmental officer (EO) has been spelled out clearly in the conditions to ensure the implementation of all the control measures and compliances to the EIA approval conditions,” he said.

Chow previously said the conditions will take into account the environmental impact mitigation efforts and measures to address the issues concerning fishermen.

Chow assured that the state government would study all the concerns raised by the fishermen and local communities in areas involved in the project and make adjustments, if necessary, to enable the project to continue.

Meanwhile, Bernama reported the chief minister as saying the Penang government will hold a special briefing on the PSR project for PKR president Anwar Ibrahim.

Chow said his administration has received a request from Anwar for a “more comprehensive briefing” on PSR.

“The state government will arrange a briefing for Anwar soon, and welcomes interested assemblymen to join in,’’ he was quoted as telling reporters in George Town.

He said the briefing will be held at a “suitable place”, and not necessarily in Penang.

The controversial project, which involves the creation of three man-made islands near Bayan Lepas, has drawn criticism from fishermen and those who support them over the loss of their livelihood.

The reclaimed land will be sold to fund the RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), which involves building new highways that cut through hilly areas on the island, rail transit lines and an undersea tunnel connected to the mainland.

The PTMP has drawn criticism from heritage and conservation groups in Penang, which say the island cannot sustain the environmental damage nor support extra traffic load, but the state government has said the project is necessary as an answer to traffic woes.

The project’s delivery partner is SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd, which is a joint venture between Gamuda Bhd and Penang real estate development firms Loh Phoy Yen Holdings Sdn Bhd and Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd. – July 16, 2019.