EIA to be a must for 20ha projects

The Star 6/6/2006

PUTRAJAYA: The Government wants to make it compulsory for developers with a development area of 20ha and more to conduct an environmental impact assessment (EIA).

Developers with less than 20ha but have several parcels of land nearby for future projects have to submit a macro EIA report.

Currently, only developers with projects spanning more than 50ha are required to carry out an EIA.

Natural Resources and Environment Ministry secretary-general Datuk Suboh Mohd Yassin said the Environmental Quality Act 1974 was in the process of being amended to make way for the two new regulations.

“The Attorney-General’s Chambers is looking into this. We are targeting for the law to be enforced this year to get more developers to be responsible and aware of how their project can affect the environment,” he said after attending his ministry’s excellence awards presentation yesterday.

Suboh said developers must realise the importance of the EIA not only for the safety of the environment but also that of their projects.

He said guidelines and rules were already in place for developers to follow, especially when carrying out hillside and highland development.

Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid called on the staff to give priority to and act fast on public complaints.

He warned them not to “sweep problems under the carpet.”