Drop Middle Bank reclamation from 2040 plan, says residents’ group
ProtectKarpal urges Penang to gazette Middle Bank as a marine sanctuary now instead of waiting until 2040.
Residents' group ProtectKarpal has urged Penang's government to remove plans for reclamation at Middle Bank from its draft Penang Structure Plan 2040. Chairman Dr K Ganesh argued that the proposal conflicted with the plan's acknowledgment of Middle Bank as a marine sanctuary and high-impact area. Middle Bank, situated between Penang island and the mainland, is a vast mudflat renowned for its marine biodiversity and seagrass beds.
Dr Ganesh contended that a reclamation project within the same ecological domain could not effectively safeguard the sanctuary. He also called for the immediate designation of Middle Bank as a marine sanctuary, citing mounting concerns over coastal development, dredging, and reclamation activities. The draft plan recognized Middle Bank as a 10 sq km ecologically significant zone, home to the sole seagrass meadow of its kind in the Malacca Strait.
The public comment period for the draft plan concluded on September 9. Penang executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari clarified that the identification of reclamation sites did not equate to approval, emphasizing that the plan's purpose was long-term planning, with the final decision on projects and timelines pending.
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