I visited the TCC at Kg. Mangkok while doing some "pro bono" work for the Department of Environment on the modeling the impacts of the 1,000 ha shrimp farm discharging its wastewater into Sg. Chaluk, a tributary of Sg. Setiu.
The building is a rented "balai raya" or community hall in Kg. Mangkok. Our group (Puan Rohimah, En Wan Zafri, En Ismail and En. Che Ku of DOE Terengganu; and myself) was shown around by Miss Chen Pelf-Nyok, Prof. Chan's assistant.
We were also told about the bad news of the proposed channel to be built by JPS to connect Sg. Setiu to the South China Sea. The proposed alignment is just after the Penarik Inn, between the two road signs indicating "Kg. Baru Penarik" and "Kg. Mangkok". The alignment would cut across the river terrapin (tuntung) nesting site. Not only that, a channel of about 1.5 km in length, would also be constructed to straighten Sg. Setiu, cutting across a pristine gelam wetlands.
As usual, JPS has not referred the project to relevant government departments including Wildlife, Fisheries, Department of Environment etc. Yes, the proposed project does not need an EIA Report but due to the impacts on the environment, relevant government departments must be consulted first.
Other than the obvious impact on the nesting site, the whole project would destroy prime wetlands, channelized natural rivers, which JPS not supposed to do according to their own publication, MASMA, the project would also increases the salinity of Sg. Setiu, affect the hydrodynamics and very possible closure of the natural Sg. Setiu estuary.
The location of the channel was not properly studied, just the narrowest point of the land between the bend of the Setiu river to the South China Sea. All for the purpose of ensuring the LKIM fish landing jetty does not become a white elephant.
Today, Wednesday, April 7, 2010, after doing an early Sg. Chaluk sampling, I went out to survey an alternative site for the channel. It is further on the Setiu Lagoon but at least it is not a tuntung nesting site. The area is between N 5 degrees 38.4137', E 102 degrees 46.5902' and N 5 degrees 38.5875, E 102 degrees 46.3876' (see photos below).
