LUMUT: The sandy beach of Teluk Nipah is eroding at a rate of up to three metres a year due to continuous erosion of the shoreline by waves, a study conducted by the Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) has found.
Project head Dr Teh Hee Min said erosion control measures on the beach must be done immediately before it harms all parties.
"Our studies found that the coastal erosion in Teluk Nipah has been happening since 1990 but it was not significant at that time, but now it is an urgent problem and a long-term preventive measure needs to be taken," said Teh, who is leading a project aimed at creating a sustainable coastal environment for the area.
"The long-term preventive measure will ensure that the serious problem of erosion at the beach can be overcome as it should be a priority for the government to ensure that settlement areas, tourism, aquaculture, agriculture, and coastal forest areas continue to be preserved,” he added on Wednesday (Jan 4).
Also present was UTP Research Management Centre director Associate Professor Dr Noor Amila Wan Abdullah Zawawi, Manjung District Irrigation and Drainage Department engineer Mohd Shamimi Mohd Tahir and Hello Pangkor director Tan Wee Hoe.
Mohd Shamimi said there are four areas where the coastline is in a state of erosion and where coastal facilities or infrastructure are in danger of collapse or direct damage, namely Teluk Nipah, Teluk Dalam, Teluk Gedung and Tanjung Kelawai which houses about 300 fishermen in the vicinity.
"Among the proactive steps to safeguard the coastal areas from erosion is to build a 50-metre rock revetment. There is also an effort being done to create a bazaar or a safer place for the roadside hawkers to continue running their businesses,” he said.
Meanwhile, beach recreation worker Mohd Nor Azahari Ahmad Baddri, 40, said he believed the coastal erosion in Teluk Giam had started long before 2019.
"In 2019, it was already eroding and the waves have been pulling the sand away from the shore little by little, but it was not as noticeable as it is now.
"This is already the third time the project to place stones along the coastline is being implemented but the erosion is still happening,” he said.
Mohd Nor Azahari, who has worked along the beach for 13 years, also called on the authorities to solve this issue as soon as possible.
"We have no problem moving if we were to be relocated to a suitable and nearby place. If possible, we want a location close to the beach to make it easier for us to continue our business,” he added. - Bernama
