Residents claim mineral extraction activities caused cracked homes, collapsed fences

IPOH - More than 30 families in the Rancangan Penempatan Tersusun (RPT) Batu 10 in Ulu Chepor near here have alleged that mineral extraction activities near their homes over the past several years have caused damage to their houses and raised concerns over residents’ safety and health.

Residents claimed that vibrations from blasting activities and the movement of heavy machinery, coupled with airborne fine dust, have resulted in various forms of damage to the homes of more than 30 families out of about 500 families living in the area.

Retiree Harun Aziz, 63, who has lived in the area for the past six years, said he began noticing cracks appearing on the walls of his house, in addition to worsening dust pollution.

"Whenever blasting takes place, the house and walls shake. The vibrations usually occur in the morning and evening. When lorries transporting minerals move in and out of the area, fine dust becomes airborne and settles on the windows of our homes and vehicles.

"If we leave our doors or windows open, the dust gets into the house. We are worried that the situation could affect residents' health, especially children and those suffering from asthma,” he told reporters here today.

Harun also alleged that the activities sometimes continued beyond permitted hours, including at night and on weekends.

Another resident, Zulkifli Md Salleh, 69, said erosion near his home had become increasingly alarming since he moved to the area in 2011.

What was once a stream measuring about 0.6 metres wide has since widened to nearly three metres and become deeper, causing the collapse of his house fence.

"Previously, there was only a small stream behind my house flowing from the affected area. In 2016, I had to spend about RM15,000 to build an L-shaped retaining structure to prevent the water from encroaching further towards my house.

"However, by this year, the erosion had worsened, damaging the structure and causing my boundary wall to collapse. I believe the strong water flow, especially during heavy rain, may have originated from a retention pond located at a higher elevation,” he said.

Complaints over the issue had previously been submitted to several relevant agencies, but residents claimed they had yet to receive any satisfactory solution.

Meanwhile, Perak Department of Mineral and Geoscience (JMG) director Nizarulikram Abdul Rahim said the use of explosives was not permitted in mineral extraction activities in the area.

He said the last application for a supporting letter for blasting works related to a development project in the area was submitted to JMG in 2023 for a three-month period, and no extension had been sought by the applicant since then.

"The applicant employs a fully hydraulic mechanical method to break up rock formations.

"Mineral extraction is carried out using a hydraulic rock splitter powered by a small portable diesel engine unit to separate the bedrock.

"For large rock boulders, operations are conducted using only a rock breaker for secondary breaking works. Both mechanical methods operate without the use of chemical explosives, gas pressure or loud explosive blasts,” he told Bernama when contacted. - BERNAMA