KOTA KINABALU: Calls are mounting for the re-evaluation of a recently approved Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for a quarry in Telipok, with villagers fearing the project will be revived.
The quarry has been dormant since its licence expired in 2019, with previous attempts to resume its operations blocked when the EIA was twice rejected, in March 2022 and January 2023.
However, it is said the latest EIA application, submitted by the same project owner and consultant, was approved in July this year, 11 months after the terms of reference were accepted.
This sparked concern among villagers of Kampung Tampulan, Timbok and Binoung, who claimed they were not consulted.
“Not engaging the villagers compromises the fairness and transparency of the EIA process. It raises serious questions about any decision to allow the quarry to resume operations,” said Tom Chin, who operates the Kebun Atuk Farmstay near the site.Since the quarry site became inactive, the area has transitioned from mining to agriculture and residential development, with locals investing in homes, farms and community facilities.
Chin, who built a home for his family just 380m from the quarry site, said the resumption of the quarry would affect the villagers’ investments and that the quarry’s past activities had caused environmental damage, including causing a waterfall in the area to dry up.He also said there was extensive damage to agriculture, degradation of water quality and dust and noise pollution.
The Environment Protection Department did not respond to queries.
