Alleged illegal clearing of the Bukit Merah Lake Reserve forest in Kerian, Perak, could lead to the decline of the lake’s water level, claims environmental group Sahabat Alam Malaysia (SAM).

“This will affect the Kerian district’s granary area and 24,000 hectares of padi fields in nearby Seberang Perai (mainland Penang),” SAM president SM Mohamed Idris said in a statement today.

The lake reserve also plays a role in flood control because a large portion of the reserve consists of wetlands and lowlands, which serve as floodplains, Idris added.

In addition, Idris claimed there have been conflicting statements from the authorities about Bukit Merah Lake’s development several years ago.

“The Kerian district officer (was) quoted in a Harian Metro report on Nov 29, 2011, as saying that the state government, through the Kerian district and land office, will implement the rancangan tanah berkelompok (RTB) project in Pondok Tanjung near the Bukit Merah Lake.

“On the other hand, the Kerian department of irrigation and drainage (DID) district engineer stated the department has never supported or (approved) any development in the Bukit Merah Lake Reserve (in order to) to ensure the Bukit Merah Lake ecosystem is protected and its functions are not impaired,” Idris said.

DID clarified that the department has no authority to prevent any encroachment or illegal clearing, although the department is responsible for the lake and river maintenance and operations, Idris added.

“In fact, according to the Kerian district local plan, the area is part of a water catchment area,” the SAM president said.

SAM, along with activist organisations Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP), Persatuan Aktivis Sahabat Alam (Kuasa), Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam (Peka) and Pertubuhan Alam Sekitar Sejahtera Malaysia (Grass) urged the relevant authorities to take action against any offenders involved in the illegal land clearing.