Penang authorities conducting study to identify beaches facing erosion

GEORGE TOWN: A beach erosion study is being undertaken by the Penang Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) to identify beaches facing erosion and measures to be taken to rectify the problem.
State DID director Sabri Abdul Mulok said the study will be submitted to the federal government for funds to be allocated for erosion mitigation measures.
He said beaches faced erosion due to various factors including its location where those with exposed sandbanks may face higher erosion levels.
Sabri said his department was aware of the situation at the beach in Kuala Muda where locals voiced their worries over the "disappearing" beach there.
"Some of the measures we can take are to build rock bunds or implement beach nourishment.
"We are waiting for the budget," he said at a press conference when asked about the issue which was reported by theSun on Monday.
Checks by this paper show the shoreline at Kuala Muda was disappearing taking along with it popular picnic sites.
Fishermen there have attributed the phenomenon to strong currents during the transition period of the monsoon season in late July but urged authorities to intervene to prevent further erosion.
Penang Local Government, Flood Mitigation and Transport Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow (pix) meanwhile said the phenomenon could be seasonal.
He cited a popular beach in Batu Ferringhi as an example where the beachline sometimes stretched until the front of a high end hotel there.
"Sometimes the beach is further out," he added.
Chow earlier unveiled the Central Seberang Perai Flood Mitigation Master Plan which will be used by the state, government agencies and private developers as a reference for future projects in the district.
He said the cost to implement was estimated to be about RM1 billion with projects to build five retention ponds with 15ha in total, constructing 23km bunds and flood retention walls, building a total of 152km of new drains and landscaping river banks.
In 2012, the Flood Mitigation Master Plan for the Southwest district was completed; plans for the Northwest and South Seberang Perai district are expected to be done by 2017 while the plan for North Seberang Perai is in the process of being drawn up.