Page 21 - GS58346 Tasik Chini

3. MINING ACTIVITY

• The mining operations that are seriously affecting the lake. They constitute the biggest threat to the integrity of Tasik Chini with
ramifications of its status as UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and the wellbeing of the local communities.

• The mining activity increase heavy metal concentration such as iron (Fe), aluminium (Al), barium (Ba), and magnesium (Mg) in
water body (Fernandez, 2012).

• The effect of heavy metal concentration can harm the health of the lake and its inhabitants. Unwell-operated mining activity will
caused increasing of heavy metal concentrations in water body. Plans for economic development prioritise the exploitation of
energy resources -especially coal - to help meet growing domestic and export market demands.

• During mining, a large amount of waste rocks/ overburden is deposited on land in dumping yard. Overburden (OB) deposits
generated from mining activities conctitute a potential risk to environment through leaching of potential toxic elements hosted
by a variety of minerals present in mine-waste materials (Verma et al., 2010).

• Melai, Bukit Ketaya and Batu Busuk are the mining area at Tasik Chini and the largest mining area is Melai.

• Sungai Jemberau has been identified as the most critical river due to its close proximity to the mining area at Bukit Ketaya.

• The problem that has persisted for more than 20 years does not only affect the water catchment and water supply for more
than 10,000 Felda Chini settlers and communities in the surrounding areas but also the livelihood of the Orang Asli
communities in the district whose source of income has been affected.

Sungai Jemberau, Tasik Chini