Langkawi’s road to environmental shame?

(The Mole) –  The estimated cost of the road project is RM22 million and stretches about 1.2km long.

Environmentalists are concerned over a road project, currently being built along Pantai Kok’s rainforest-covered hill which they said is “sacrificing” century-old trees as well as marine lives along the island’s shores.

Naturalist Irshad Mobarak said the road project is actually along a forest on a limestone hill which is also close to a mangrove forest and a popular tourist spot.

In an interview with The Mole  Irshad said: “Langkawi has many rare species which is only seen in this part of the world and it will go extinct if the island is overdeveloped.”

“The island’s biodiversity is amazing and eco-tourism is what draws tourists to the island. Islands work by different rules, if a habitat is lost, species will decline, “ he said.

Meanwhile, a source who lives and work on the island said the estimated cost of the road project is RM22 million and stretches about 1.2km long.

The project which started about a month ago is said to be built as a short cut to enable tourist to get to a nearby resort.

The source also said there were no proper signage’s to indicate that the area was under construction.

Read more at: http://www.mole.my/content/road-works-stretching-12km-affecting-pantai-koks-ecotourism