About 700 villagers of Kampung Lobak, Mahang near Kulim expressed concern with sand mining activities and the danger posed by speeding inconsiderate lorry drivers who ply the village road to transport sand from the village.

Over the past four months, villagers and school children have been living in fear as lorry drivers who drive in and out of a sand mining quarry near Sungai Kerian, since they show no consideration for even school children who also use the same road to school.

Kampung Lobak Village Development and Safety committee chairman Zainuddin Teh, 53, said the state government had approved a licence to a company to carry out such activities.

He added that he had written to the Kedah Road Safety Department (JKJR) in November, expressing the concern of the villagers.

"During a meeting held between JKJR, Police, Road Transport Department (JPJ), Department of Irrigation and Drainage (JPS) without the presence of the company, had decided to overcome the problem but no firm action has been taken," he told reporters when met at his house in Kampung Lobak in Kedah today.

He added that sand mining activities had also caused serious erosion problems along the river banks.

- Bernama