No takers for flower power on Penang Hill
Athi VeerangganPublished: Jul 19, 2005 4:05 AM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 10:21 AM
Flower nurseries conjure up a scenic image of colour and fragrance, but not in the case of those on Penang Hill.
Flower nurseries conjure up a scenic image of colour and fragrance, but not in the case of those on Penang Hill.
The prominent landmark and tourist attraction, and its surrounding areas, have become an eyesore when viewed from the foot of the hill because of slope cutting and the building of structures for nurseries.
Penang Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) chairperson S Kanda Kumar claimed that the increasing number of "uncontrolled and illegal" nurseries being established has caused soil erosion, water pollution and a public health hazard.
He called on the relevant state agencies to regulate nurseries in order to prevent natural disasters, especially during rainy spells when earth, vegetation and debris are washed into nearby rivers.
The depth of rivers like Sungai Dondang, Sungai Air Terjun, Sungai Air Itam and Sungai Bab 1 has been reduced as a result. With drainage being affected, flash floods are likely in many parts of George Town.
In addition, Sungai Bab1 in Batu Feringghi has virtually become a "dead" river, Kanda Kumar said.
Although the state drainage and irrigation department has spent millions of ringgit to deepen and widen these rivers, the situation has shown little improvement.
Kanda Kumar also claimed that the nursery owners use pesticides that leach into the ground water, thereby posing "grave danger to public health".
Artificial forest
The MNS branch recently submitted several suggestions to the state government to solve the problems.
These include stipulating what can be grown, and the use of technology-based farming methods, procedures and equipments to prevent soil erosion and destruction of natural vegetation.
"Durian and rambutan orchards on the hillside would not pose much of a problem since they would form an artificial forest, unlike flower nurseries. The authorities should bar nurseries from being set up on the hill slopes," said Kanda Kumar.
The island's ecology is already affected by dumping of industrial waste, which has contaminated river water and parts of the beach near the Penang bridge and mainland. Among the effects are the loss of marine life and mangrove forests, as well as a strong odour.
ATHI VEERANGGAN is malaysiakini's Penang-based stringer.
The prominent landmark and tourist attraction, and its surrounding areas, have become an eyesore when viewed from the foot of the hill because of slope cutting and the building of structures for nurseries.
Penang Malaysian Nature Society (MNS) chairperson S Kanda Kumar claimed that the increasing number of "uncontrolled and illegal" nurseries being established has caused soil erosion, water pollution and a public health hazard.
He called on the relevant state agencies to regulate nurseries in order to prevent natural disasters, especially during rainy spells when earth, vegetation and debris are washed into nearby rivers.
The depth of rivers like Sungai Dondang, Sungai Air Terjun, Sungai Air Itam and Sungai Bab 1 has been reduced as a result. With drainage being affected, flash floods are likely in many parts of George Town.
In addition, Sungai Bab1 in Batu Feringghi has virtually become a "dead" river, Kanda Kumar said.
Although the state drainage and irrigation department has spent millions of ringgit to deepen and widen these rivers, the situation has shown little improvement.
Kanda Kumar also claimed that the nursery owners use pesticides that leach into the ground water, thereby posing "grave danger to public health".
Artificial forest
The MNS branch recently submitted several suggestions to the state government to solve the problems.
These include stipulating what can be grown, and the use of technology-based farming methods, procedures and equipments to prevent soil erosion and destruction of natural vegetation.
"Durian and rambutan orchards on the hillside would not pose much of a problem since they would form an artificial forest, unlike flower nurseries. The authorities should bar nurseries from being set up on the hill slopes," said Kanda Kumar.
The island's ecology is already affected by dumping of industrial waste, which has contaminated river water and parts of the beach near the Penang bridge and mainland. Among the effects are the loss of marine life and mangrove forests, as well as a strong odour.
ATHI VEERANGGAN is malaysiakini's Penang-based stringer.
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