GEORGE TOWN: There is a need to establish an "Ulu Muda basin authority" to protect the water catchment areas in the area, says Chow Kon Yeow.

       The Penang Chief Minister said for several years, the state government and Penang Water Supply Corporation had been pushing for such a body to be created.

       "the Ulu Muda basin authority will be an agency that can control raw water sources in Ulu Muda, taking into account that it is the main water supply for Kedah, Penang and Perlis," he said after attending the launch of "Planting One Million Trees Within A Day", in conjunction with Earth Day on Monday (Jan 22).

       He was commenting on Kedah Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor's denial that mud pollution in the catchment was caused by logging activities near the Tasik Muda reservoir.

       He claimed that any logging activity in the state adheres to international regulations and standards.

       This is after an environmental NGO, RimbaWatch, urged the Kedah government to clarify the reasons behind logging activities near the Tasik Muda reservoir, which they claim led to mud pollution.

       Chow said he understood Kedah's viewpoint as there would be a loss of revenue if logging was not permitted.

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       He said that the Federal Government is responsible for ensuring that Ulu Muda can be protected from activities that can jeopardise the ecosystem in the catchment areas.

       Chow said that for the past five years, he had raised similar issues in pushing for the establishment of the Ulu Muda basin authority, including meeting two Kedah former mentris besar and three ministries.