Govt identifies 221 critical slopes that need attention - minister

 

The Minerals and Geoscience Department has identified a total of 221 critical slopes that need attention, especially when the monsoon season starts.

Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad said the Batang Kali landslide, which claimed 31 lives in December last year, could have been avoided if all parties took the development of an area seriously by ensuring that the site involved was stable, safe, and not at risk of geological disasters such as landslides.

“In addition, mudflows also need to be given attention,” he said in a message in conjunction with World Geologists’ Day 2023, which was observed today.

Therefore, he said that the geologists are required to conduct regular checks to ensure that affected parties are given enough knowledge so that unwanted incidents can be avoided in case of floods or mudflow in the future.

Nik Nazmi said he had seen for himself the work of the Minerals and Geoscience Department during the Batang Kali disaster.

“I am highly impressed with the role that geologists. They are among the first to arrive and analyse the disaster site, as well as the movement of the landslides. They are also the ones who study and understand the cause of the incident,” he said.

Describing geologists in Malaysia as being among the earliest professionals in helping the country’s development, he also encouraged them to explore renewable energy sources, such as geothermal, to help the non-radioactive rare earth element (NR-REE) mining industry.

He said that the effort is necessary, as the NR-REE mining industry is being actively developed, with several areas identified as having the potential to promise good returns to the national economy.

In the meantime, Nik Nazmi said that the department is directly involved in drafting the Groundwater Strategic Plan 2021-2040, to support the Water Sector Transformation 2040 (WST 2040) agenda.

He added that the involvement was to ensure the country’s water supply continues to be in a sustainable state through continuous studies on the conjunctive use of underground water sources.

“The Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change Ministry is also actively developing the National Geopark Development and Implementation Plan so that geopark development in Malaysia is carried out in a controlled and sustainable manner. Also, it ensures that geological disasters can be monitored and controlled.

“The ministry is directly involved in Directive No 20 (National Disaster Management Policy and Mechanism), including implementing the community-based disaster risk programme, to reduce the risk of geological disasters, whether loss of life or property,” he said.

- Bernama